diff --git a/bower.json b/bower.json
index 487b409..07fd4d6 100644
--- a/bower.json
+++ b/bower.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "aurelia-fetch-client",
-  "version": "1.6.0",
+  "version": "1.7.0",
   "description": "A simple client based on the Fetch standard.",
   "keywords": [
     "aurelia",
diff --git a/dist/amd/aurelia-fetch-client.js b/dist/amd/aurelia-fetch-client.js
index a31ee39..7436396 100644
--- a/dist/amd/aurelia-fetch-client.js
+++ b/dist/amd/aurelia-fetch-client.js
@@ -369,6 +369,12 @@ define(['exports', 'aurelia-pal'], function (exports, _aureliaPal) {
 
   function trackRequestStart() {
     this.isRequesting = !!++this.activeRequestCount;
+    if (this.isRequesting) {
+      var evt = _aureliaPal.DOM.createCustomEvent('aurelia-fetch-client-request-started', { bubbles: true, cancelable: true });
+      setTimeout(function () {
+        return _aureliaPal.DOM.dispatchEvent(evt);
+      }, 1);
+    }
   }
 
   function trackRequestEnd() {
diff --git a/dist/aurelia-fetch-client.js b/dist/aurelia-fetch-client.js
index 50cfe49..cdb8720 100644
--- a/dist/aurelia-fetch-client.js
+++ b/dist/aurelia-fetch-client.js
@@ -592,6 +592,10 @@ const absoluteUrlRegexp = /^([a-z][a-z0-9+\-.]*:)?\/\//i;
 
 function trackRequestStart() {
   this.isRequesting = !!(++this.activeRequestCount);
+  if (this.isRequesting) {
+    let evt = DOM.createCustomEvent('aurelia-fetch-client-request-started', { bubbles: true, cancelable: true });
+    setTimeout(() => DOM.dispatchEvent(evt), 1);
+  }
 }
 
 function trackRequestEnd() {
diff --git a/dist/commonjs/aurelia-fetch-client.js b/dist/commonjs/aurelia-fetch-client.js
index e3064bb..6e2b9be 100644
--- a/dist/commonjs/aurelia-fetch-client.js
+++ b/dist/commonjs/aurelia-fetch-client.js
@@ -367,6 +367,12 @@ var absoluteUrlRegexp = /^([a-z][a-z0-9+\-.]*:)?\/\//i;
 
 function trackRequestStart() {
   this.isRequesting = !!++this.activeRequestCount;
+  if (this.isRequesting) {
+    var evt = _aureliaPal.DOM.createCustomEvent('aurelia-fetch-client-request-started', { bubbles: true, cancelable: true });
+    setTimeout(function () {
+      return _aureliaPal.DOM.dispatchEvent(evt);
+    }, 1);
+  }
 }
 
 function trackRequestEnd() {
diff --git a/dist/es2015/aurelia-fetch-client.js b/dist/es2015/aurelia-fetch-client.js
index c682698..95082e2 100644
--- a/dist/es2015/aurelia-fetch-client.js
+++ b/dist/es2015/aurelia-fetch-client.js
@@ -290,6 +290,10 @@ const absoluteUrlRegexp = /^([a-z][a-z0-9+\-.]*:)?\/\//i;
 
 function trackRequestStart() {
   this.isRequesting = !!++this.activeRequestCount;
+  if (this.isRequesting) {
+    let evt = DOM.createCustomEvent('aurelia-fetch-client-request-started', { bubbles: true, cancelable: true });
+    setTimeout(() => DOM.dispatchEvent(evt), 1);
+  }
 }
 
 function trackRequestEnd() {
diff --git a/dist/native-modules/aurelia-fetch-client.js b/dist/native-modules/aurelia-fetch-client.js
index e903cf6..b1ccf6b 100644
--- a/dist/native-modules/aurelia-fetch-client.js
+++ b/dist/native-modules/aurelia-fetch-client.js
@@ -358,6 +358,12 @@ var absoluteUrlRegexp = /^([a-z][a-z0-9+\-.]*:)?\/\//i;
 
 function trackRequestStart() {
   this.isRequesting = !!++this.activeRequestCount;
+  if (this.isRequesting) {
+    var evt = DOM.createCustomEvent('aurelia-fetch-client-request-started', { bubbles: true, cancelable: true });
+    setTimeout(function () {
+      return DOM.dispatchEvent(evt);
+    }, 1);
+  }
 }
 
 function trackRequestEnd() {
diff --git a/dist/system/aurelia-fetch-client.js b/dist/system/aurelia-fetch-client.js
index 188f71b..556ae64 100644
--- a/dist/system/aurelia-fetch-client.js
+++ b/dist/system/aurelia-fetch-client.js
@@ -49,6 +49,12 @@ System.register(['aurelia-pal'], function (_export, _context) {
 
   function trackRequestStart() {
     this.isRequesting = !!++this.activeRequestCount;
+    if (this.isRequesting) {
+      var evt = DOM.createCustomEvent('aurelia-fetch-client-request-started', { bubbles: true, cancelable: true });
+      setTimeout(function () {
+        return DOM.dispatchEvent(evt);
+      }, 1);
+    }
   }
 
   function trackRequestEnd() {
diff --git a/doc/CHANGELOG.md b/doc/CHANGELOG.md
index 37db7df..03fa695 100644
--- a/doc/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/doc/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,10 @@
+<a name="1.7.0"></a>
+# [1.7.0](https://github.com/aurelia/fetch-client/compare/1.6.0...1.7.0) (2018-12-01)
+
+### Features
+
+* added 'aurelia-fetch-client-request-started' event
+
 <a name="1.6.0"></a>
 # [1.6.0](https://github.com/aurelia/fetch-client/compare/1.5.0...1.6.0) (2018-09-25)
 
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index f645c42..2dbdf4f 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "aurelia-fetch-client",
-  "version": "1.6.0",
+  "version": "1.7.0",
   "description": "A simple client based on the Fetch standard.",
   "keywords": [
     "aurelia",