diff --git a/sqlalchemy_utils/types/phone_number.py b/sqlalchemy_utils/types/phone_number.py
index d216d05..0511641 100644
--- a/sqlalchemy_utils/types/phone_number.py
+++ b/sqlalchemy_utils/types/phone_number.py
@@ -153,9 +153,7 @@ class PhoneNumberType(types.TypeDecorator, ScalarCoercible):
     """
     STORE_FORMAT = 'e164'
     impl = types.Unicode(20)
-
-    def python_type(self, text):
-        return self._coerce(text)
+    python_type = PhoneNumber
 
     def __init__(self, region='US', max_length=20, *args, **kwargs):
         # Bail if phonenumbers is not found.
diff --git a/tests/types/test_phonenumber.py b/tests/types/test_phonenumber.py
index a69f394..e9b3944 100644
--- a/tests/types/test_phonenumber.py
+++ b/tests/types/test_phonenumber.py
@@ -150,6 +150,9 @@ class TestPhoneNumberType(object):
         session.refresh(user)
         assert user.phone_number is None
 
+    def test_uses_phonenumber_class_as_python_type(self):
+        assert PhoneNumberType().python_type is PhoneNumber
+
     @pytest.mark.usefixtures('user')
     def test_phone_number_is_none(self, session, User):
         phone_number = None