diff --git a/falcon/api.py b/falcon/api.py
index 00f8295..637c9ed 100644
--- a/falcon/api.py
+++ b/falcon/api.py
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ class API(object):
             if ex.headers is not None:
                 resp.set_headers(ex.headers)
 
-            if req.client_accepts_json:
+            if req.client_accepts('application/json'):
                 resp.body = ex.json()
 
         except TypeError as ex:
diff --git a/falcon/request.py b/falcon/request.py
index ed01bc0..836dbbe 100644
--- a/falcon/request.py
+++ b/falcon/request.py
@@ -138,18 +138,19 @@ class Request(object):
     @property
     def client_accepts_json(self):
         """Return True if the Accept header indicates JSON support."""
-
-        accept = self._get_header_by_wsgi_name('ACCEPT')
-        return ((accept is not None) and
-                (('application/json' in accept) or ('*/*' in accept)))
+        return self.client_accepts('application/json')
 
     @property
     def client_accepts_xml(self):
         """Return True if the Accept header indicates XML support."""
+        return self.client_accepts('application/xml')
+
+    def client_accepts(self, media_type):
+        """Return True if the Accept header indicates a media type support."""
 
         accept = self._get_header_by_wsgi_name('ACCEPT')
         return ((accept is not None) and
-                (('application/xml' in accept) or ('*/*' in accept)))
+                ((media_type in accept) or ('*/*' in accept)))
 
     @property
     def accept(self):
diff --git a/falcon/tests/test_req_vars.py b/falcon/tests/test_req_vars.py
index 6d5bc41..7892bf0 100644
--- a/falcon/tests/test_req_vars.py
+++ b/falcon/tests/test_req_vars.py
@@ -83,22 +83,29 @@ class TestReqVars(testing.TestBase):
 
         self.assertEqual(req_noapp.relative_uri, self.relative_uri)
 
-    def test_accept_xml(self):
+    def test_client_accepts(self):
         headers = {'Accept': 'application/xml'}
         req = Request(testing.create_environ(headers=headers))
-        self.assertTrue(req.client_accepts_xml)
+        self.assertTrue(req.client_accepts('application/xml'))
 
         headers = {'Accept': '*/*'}
         req = Request(testing.create_environ(headers=headers))
-        self.assertTrue(req.client_accepts_xml)
+        self.assertTrue(req.client_accepts('application/xml'))
 
         headers = {'Accept': 'application/json'}
         req = Request(testing.create_environ(headers=headers))
-        self.assertFalse(req.client_accepts_xml)
+        self.assertFalse(req.client_accepts('application/xml'))
 
         headers = {'Accept': 'application/xm'}
         req = Request(testing.create_environ(headers=headers))
-        self.assertFalse(req.client_accepts_xml)
+        self.assertFalse(req.client_accepts('application/xml'))
+
+    def test_client_accepts_props(self):
+        headers = {'Accept': 'application/xml'}
+        req = Request(testing.create_environ(headers=headers))
+
+        self.assertTrue(req.client_accepts_xml)
+        self.assertFalse(req.client_accepts_json)
 
     def test_range(self):
         headers = {'Range': '10-'}