diff --git a/src/Downloads.jl b/src/Downloads.jl
index b56561d..cda5cf7 100644
--- a/src/Downloads.jl
+++ b/src/Downloads.jl
@@ -50,10 +50,6 @@ function grace_ms(grace::Real)
     grace <= typemax(UInt64) ÷ 1000 ? round(UInt64, 1000*grace) : typemax(UInt64)
 end
 
-function easy_hook(downloader::Downloader, easy::Easy, info::NamedTuple)
-    downloader.easy_hook !== nothing && downloader.easy_hook(easy, info)
-end
-
 get_ca_roots() = Curl.SYSTEM_SSL ? ca_roots() : ca_roots_path()
 
 function set_ca_roots(downloader::Downloader, easy::Easy)
@@ -289,6 +285,7 @@ function request(
     verbose    :: Bool = false,
     throw      :: Bool = true,
     downloader :: Union{Downloader, Nothing} = nothing,
+    easy_hook  :: Union{Function, Nothing} = nothing
 ) :: Union{Response, RequestError}
     lock(DOWNLOAD_LOCK) do
         yield() # let other downloads finish
@@ -338,8 +335,11 @@ function request(
                 method !== nothing && set_method(easy, method)
                 progress !== nothing && enable_progress(easy)
                 set_ca_roots(downloader, easy)
+
+                # Apply user-defined customizations to the Curl easy handle
                 info = (url = url, method = method, headers = headers)
-                easy_hook(downloader, easy, info)
+                downloader.easy_hook !== nothing && downloader.easy_hook(easy, info)
+                easy_hook !== nothing && easy_hook(easy)
 
                 # do the request
                 add_handle(downloader.multi, easy)