diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b04accf..65e9ac5 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -36,6 +36,12 @@ app.get("/long-cache", cacher.cacheDays(2), ...)
 // invalidation support
 cacher.invalidate('/home')
 
+// don't cache xhr requests
+cacher.xhr = false
+
+// if you don't want browser caching
+cacher.browserCache = false
+
 // listen for events to track cache rate and errors
 cacher.on("hit", function(key) {
   console.log("woohoo!")
diff --git a/lib/Cacher.js b/lib/Cacher.js
index ce979ae..e5575c5 100644
--- a/lib/Cacher.js
+++ b/lib/Cacher.js
@@ -76,6 +76,8 @@ Cacher.prototype.genCacheKey = function(req) {
 
 Cacher.prototype.noCaching = false
 Cacher.prototype.cacheHeader = 'X-Cacher-Hit'
+Cacher.prototype.browserCache = true
+Cacher.prototype.xhr = true
 
 Cacher.prototype.calcTtl = function(unit, value) {
   if (unit === 0 || value === 0 || unit === false) return 0
@@ -120,6 +122,9 @@ Cacher.prototype.cache = function(unit, value) {
       return next()
     }
 
+    // handle xhr caching
+    if (req.xhr && !self.xhr) return next()
+
     var key = self.genCacheKey(req)
     var staleKey = key + ".stale"
     var realTtl = ttl + GEN_TIME * 2
@@ -137,7 +142,8 @@ Cacher.prototype.cache = function(unit, value) {
           return next()
         }
 
-        setHeaders(res, ttl)
+        // only if browser cache is opted
+        if (self.browserCache) setHeaders(res, ttl)
 
         if (!stale) {
           self.client.set(staleKey, STALE_REFRESH, GEN_TIME)