diff --git a/src/main.js b/src/main.js
index 449a3bc3b1a..cc5c00482ab 100644
--- a/src/main.js
+++ b/src/main.js
@@ -2,12 +2,14 @@ var config      = require('./config'),
     ViewModel   = require('./viewmodel'),
     utils       = require('./utils'),
     makeHash    = utils.hash,
-    assetTypes  = ['directive', 'filter', 'partial', 'effect', 'component']
-
-// require these so Browserify can catch them
-// so they can be used in Vue.require
-require('./observer')
-require('./transition')
+    assetTypes  = ['directive', 'filter', 'partial', 'effect', 'component'],
+    // Internal modules that are exposed for plugins
+    pluginAPI   = {
+        utils: utils,
+        config: config,
+        transition: require('./transition'),
+        observer: require('./observer')
+    }
 
 ViewModel.options = config.globalAssets = {
     directives  : require('./directives'),
@@ -83,8 +85,8 @@ ViewModel.use = function (plugin) {
 /**
  *  Expose internal modules for plugins
  */
-ViewModel.require = function (path) {
-    return require('./' + path)
+ViewModel.require = function (module) {
+    return pluginAPI[module]
 }
 
 ViewModel.extend = extend