diff --git a/src.browser/shims.ts b/src.browser/shims.ts
index 9a8dd58a9..adf7c3737 100644
--- a/src.browser/shims.ts
+++ b/src.browser/shims.ts
@@ -1 +1,4 @@
+
 require('setimmediate');
+
+module.exports.platform = 'browser';
diff --git a/src.ts/ethers.ts b/src.ts/ethers.ts
index 3c185b084..a9dec757a 100644
--- a/src.ts/ethers.ts
+++ b/src.ts/ethers.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 'use strict';
 
 // This is empty in node, and used by browserify to inject extra goodies
-import {} from './utils/shims';
-
+import { platform } from './utils/shims';
 
 import { Contract, Interface } from './contracts';
 import * as providers from './providers';
@@ -37,6 +36,7 @@ export {
 
     wordlists,
 
+    platform,
     version
 };
 
diff --git a/src.ts/utils/shims.ts b/src.ts/utils/shims.ts
index 2e6d7e87f..d3a94759b 100644
--- a/src.ts/utils/shims.ts
+++ b/src.ts/utils/shims.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 /* no shims for node */
 
-export default { };
+export const platform = 'node';