diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index d22d381..b6e9a6e 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ components:
 clean:
 	rm -fr build components template.js
 
-test:
+test: build
 	@node test/server
 
 .PHONY: clean test
diff --git a/Readme.md b/Readme.md
index 9870252..baf1a08 100644
--- a/Readme.md
+++ b/Readme.md
@@ -42,6 +42,20 @@ var Post = model('Post')
   .attr('updated_at', { type: 'date' })
 ```
 
+### .primary(name)
+  
+  Set the primary attribute key's `name`.
+
+```js
+var model = require('model');
+
+var Post = model('Post')
+  .attr('slug')
+  .attr('title')
+  .attr('body')
+  .primary('slug');
+```
+
 ### .validate(fn)
 
   TODO: validation callback docs
diff --git a/lib/static.js b/lib/static.js
index 8c8b736..10f1e5c 100644
--- a/lib/static.js
+++ b/lib/static.js
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ exports.url = function(path){
  *
  *   User.headers({
  *    'X-CSRF-Token': 'some token',
- *    'X-API-Token': 'api token 
+ *    'X-API-Token': 'api token
  *   });
  *
  * @param {String|Object} header(s)
@@ -88,9 +88,8 @@ exports.attr = function(name, options){
   this.attrs[name] = options || {};
 
   // implied pk
-  if ('_id' == name || 'id' == name) {
-    this.attrs[name].primaryKey = true;
-    this.primaryKey = name;
+  if (!this.primaryKey && ('_id' == name || 'id' == name)) {
+    this.primary(name);
   }
 
   // getter / setter method
@@ -109,6 +108,19 @@ exports.attr = function(name, options){
   return this;
 };
 
+/**
+ * Set the primary attribute `name` for the model.
+ *
+ * @param {String} name
+ * @return {Function} self
+ * @api public
+ */
+
+exports.primary = function(name){
+  this.primaryKey = name;
+  return this;
+};
+
 /**
  * Remove all and invoke `fn(err)`.
  *
diff --git a/test/statics.js b/test/statics.js
index 0993ea0..7713ce3 100644
--- a/test/statics.js
+++ b/test/statics.js
@@ -20,6 +20,13 @@ describe('Model.url(string)', function(){
   })
 })
 
+describe('Model.primary(name)', function(){
+  it('should set the model primary key', function(){
+    User.primary('id');
+    assert('id' == User.primaryKey);
+  })
+})
+
 describe('Model.attrs', function(){
   it('should hold the defined attrs', function(){
     assert('string' == User.attrs.name.type);