diff --git a/src/Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc.Core/DefaultControllerActivator.cs b/src/Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc.Core/DefaultControllerActivator.cs
index cabfab274e..d0ac4ccf93 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc.Core/DefaultControllerActivator.cs
+++ b/src/Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc.Core/DefaultControllerActivator.cs
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc
             _typeActivatorCache = typeActivatorCache;
         }
         /// <inheritdoc />
-        public object Create([NotNull] ActionContext actionContext, [NotNull] Type controllerType)
+        public virtual object Create([NotNull] ActionContext actionContext, [NotNull] Type controllerType)
         {
             var serviceProvider = actionContext.HttpContext.RequestServices;
             return _typeActivatorCache.CreateInstance<object>(serviceProvider, controllerType);
diff --git a/src/Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc.Core/DefaultControllerFactory.cs b/src/Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc.Core/DefaultControllerFactory.cs
index 9700d6bf44..c21a03af7a 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc.Core/DefaultControllerFactory.cs
+++ b/src/Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc.Core/DefaultControllerFactory.cs
@@ -38,8 +38,19 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc
             _getPropertiesToActivate = GetPropertiesToActivate;
         }
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// The <see cref="IControllerActivator"/> used to create a controller.
+        /// </summary>
+        protected IControllerActivator ControllerActivator
+        {
+            get
+            {
+                return _controllerActivator;
+            }
+        }
+
         /// <inheritdoc />
-        public object CreateController([NotNull] ActionContext actionContext)
+        public virtual object CreateController([NotNull] ActionContext actionContext)
         {
             var actionDescriptor = actionContext.ActionDescriptor as ControllerActionDescriptor;
             if (actionDescriptor == null)
@@ -58,7 +69,7 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc
         }
 
         /// <inheritdoc />
-        public void ReleaseController(object controller)
+        public virtual void ReleaseController(object controller)
         {
             var disposableController = controller as IDisposable;