diff --git a/cqlengine/models.py b/cqlengine/models.py
index d03a0041..2c011b8e 100644
--- a/cqlengine/models.py
+++ b/cqlengine/models.py
@@ -7,10 +7,12 @@ from cqlengine.query import ModelQuerySet, DMLQuery, AbstractQueryableColumn
 from cqlengine.query import DoesNotExist as _DoesNotExist
 from cqlengine.query import MultipleObjectsReturned as _MultipleObjectsReturned
 
+
 class ModelDefinitionException(ModelException): pass
 
 DEFAULT_KEYSPACE = 'cqlengine'
 
+
 class hybrid_classmethod(object):
     """
     Allows a method to behave as both a class method and
@@ -44,7 +46,7 @@ class QuerySetDescriptor(object):
         """ :rtype: ModelQuerySet """
         if model.__abstract__:
             raise CQLEngineException('cannot execute queries against abstract models')
-        return ModelQuerySet(model)
+        return model.__queryset__(model)
 
     def __call__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         """
@@ -140,6 +142,10 @@ class BaseModel(object):
     #the keyspace for this model
     __keyspace__ = None
 
+    # the queryset class used for this class
+    __queryset__ = ModelQuerySet
+    __dmlquery__ = DMLQuery
+
     __read_repair_chance__ = 0.1
 
     def __init__(self, **values):
@@ -261,7 +267,7 @@ class BaseModel(object):
     def save(self):
         is_new = self.pk is None
         self.validate()
-        DMLQuery(self.__class__, self, batch=self._batch).save()
+        self.__dmlquery__(self.__class__, self, batch=self._batch).save()
 
         #reset the value managers
         for v in self._values.values():
@@ -272,7 +278,7 @@ class BaseModel(object):
 
     def delete(self):
         """ Deletes this instance """
-        DMLQuery(self.__class__, self, batch=self._batch).delete()
+        self.__dmlquery__(self.__class__, self, batch=self._batch).delete()
 
     @classmethod
     def _class_batch(cls, batch):
diff --git a/cqlengine/tests/model/test_class_construction.py b/cqlengine/tests/model/test_class_construction.py
index f0344c6b..6653946b 100644
--- a/cqlengine/tests/model/test_class_construction.py
+++ b/cqlengine/tests/model/test_class_construction.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 from uuid import uuid4
-from cqlengine.query import QueryException
+from cqlengine.query import QueryException, ModelQuerySet, DMLQuery
 from cqlengine.tests.base import BaseCassEngTestCase
 
 from cqlengine.exceptions import ModelException, CQLEngineException
@@ -300,6 +300,42 @@ class TestAbstractModelClasses(BaseCassEngTestCase):
         delete_table(ConcreteModelWithCol)
 
 
+class TestCustomQuerySet(BaseCassEngTestCase):
+    """ Tests overriding the default queryset class """
+
+    class TestException(Exception): pass
+
+    def test_overriding_queryset(self):
+
+        class QSet(ModelQuerySet):
+            def create(iself, **kwargs):
+                raise self.TestException
+
+        class CQModel(Model):
+            __queryset__ = QSet
+            part = columns.UUID(primary_key=True)
+            data = columns.Text()
+
+        with self.assertRaises(self.TestException):
+            CQModel.create(part=uuid4(), data='s')
+
+    def test_overriding_dmlqueryset(self):
+
+        class DMLQ(DMLQuery):
+            def save(iself):
+                raise self.TestException
+
+        class CDQModel(Model):
+            __dmlquery__ = DMLQ
+            part = columns.UUID(primary_key=True)
+            data = columns.Text()
+
+        with self.assertRaises(self.TestException):
+            CDQModel().save()
+
+
+
+