diff --git a/lib/http-protocol.js b/lib/http-protocol.js
index 3c4360eb6..5e53a1d95 100644
--- a/lib/http-protocol.js
+++ b/lib/http-protocol.js
@@ -2,6 +2,17 @@
 
 var queryString = require("qs");
 var proto = exports;
+var instanceMethods = ["exit", "notify", "pause", "resume"];
+
+/**
+ * Does the requested method expect an instance of BrowserSync
+ * or raw access to the emitter?
+ * @param method
+ * @returns {boolean}
+ */
+function methodRequiresInstance(method) {
+    return instanceMethods.indexOf(method) > -1;
+}
 
 /**
  * Use BrowserSync options + querystring to create a
@@ -48,7 +59,11 @@ proto.middleware = function (bs) {
 
         try {
 
-            require("./public/" + params.method)(bs.events).apply(null, [params.args]);
+            var bsOrEmitter = methodRequiresInstance(params.method)
+                ? bs
+                : bs.events;
+
+            require("./public/" + params.method)(bsOrEmitter).apply(null, [params.args]);
 
             output = [
                 "Called public API method `.%s()`".replace("%s", params.method),