diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 7a3eb2a..79060d0 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ nosetests.xml
 coverage.xml
 *,cover
 .hypothesis/
+.pytest_cache
 
 # Translations
 *.mo
@@ -108,6 +109,10 @@ ENV/
 # IntelliJ
 /out/
 
+# vscode
+.vscode
+.history
+
 # mpeltonen/sbt-idea plugin
 .idea_modules/
 
diff --git a/flask_consulate/consul.py b/flask_consulate/consul.py
index 29cb668..86aa508 100644
--- a/flask_consulate/consul.py
+++ b/flask_consulate/consul.py
@@ -40,11 +40,17 @@ def __init__(self, app=None, **kwargs):
             os.environ.get('CONSUL_PORT', 8500)
         self.max_tries = self.kwargs.get('max_tries', 3)
 
-        self.session = None
+        self.consul = None
+        self._session = None # for backward compatibility
 
         if app is not None:
             self.init_app(app)
 
+    @property
+    def session(self):
+        self.app.logger.warning("session field deprecated - please use .consul")
+        return self._session
+
     def init_app(self, app):
         self.app = app
 
@@ -54,25 +60,27 @@ def init_app(self, app):
             raise RuntimeError('Flask application already initialized')
         app.extensions['consul'] = self
 
-        self.session = self._create_session(
+        self.consul = self._create_consul(
             test_connection=self.kwargs.get('test_connection', False),
         )
+        # for backward compatibility
+        self._session = self.consul
 
     @with_retry_connections()
-    def _create_session(self, test_connection=False):
+    def _create_consul(self, test_connection=False):
         """
-        Create a consulate.session object, and query for its leader to ensure
+        Create a consulate.consul object, and query for its leader to ensure
         that the connection is made.
 
         :param test_connection: call .leader() to ensure that the connection
             is valid
         :type test_connection: bool
-        :return consulate.Session instance
+        :return consulate.Consul instance
         """
-        session = consulate.Session(host=self.host, port=self.port)
+        consul = consulate.Consul(host=self.host, port=self.port)
         if test_connection:
-            session.status.leader()
-        return session
+            consul.status.leader()
+        return consul
 
     @with_retry_connections()
     def apply_remote_config(self, namespace=None):
@@ -93,7 +101,7 @@ def apply_remote_config(self, namespace=None):
                 environment=os.environ.get('ENVIRONMENT', 'generic_environment')
             )
 
-        for k, v in iteritems(self.session.kv.find(namespace)):
+        for k, v in iteritems(self.consul.kv.find(namespace)):
             k = k.replace(namespace, '')
             try:
                 self.app.config[k] = json.loads(v)
@@ -115,4 +123,4 @@ def register_service(self, **kwargs):
         kwargs passed to Consul.agent.service.register
         """
         kwargs.setdefault('name', self.app.name)
-        self.session.agent.service.register(**kwargs)
+        self.consul.agent.service.register(**kwargs)
diff --git a/tests/test_core.py b/tests/test_core.py
index 0e6c249..cf0b92c 100644
--- a/tests/test_core.py
+++ b/tests/test_core.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 
 from flask_consulate import Consul
 from flask_consulate.exceptions import ConsulConnectionError
+from consulate.exceptions import RequestError
 
 
 class TestFlaskConsulate(unittest.TestCase):
@@ -62,12 +63,17 @@ def test_session(self):
         )
         self.assertIsNotNone(consul)
 
+        self.assertIsNotNone(consul.consul)
+
+        # consul.session should equal consul.consul. Included for backwards compatability
+        self.assertEqual(consul.consul, consul.session)
+
         httpretty.disable()
         httpretty.reset()
 
         app = self.create_app()
         self.assertRaises(
-            ConsulConnectionError,
+            RequestError,
             lambda: Consul(
                 app,
                 consul_host='consul.internal',
@@ -88,7 +94,7 @@ def test_register_service(self):
             body="localhost:8300",
         )
         app = self.create_app()
-        with mock.patch('consulate.Session') as mocked:
+        with mock.patch('consulate.Consul') as mocked:
             consul = Consul(app)
             consul.register_service()
             self.assertEqual(mocked.return_value.agent.service.register.call_count, 1)