diff --git a/lib/core/Axios.js b/lib/core/Axios.js
index 613af54d42..a1be08adae 100644
--- a/lib/core/Axios.js
+++ b/lib/core/Axios.js
@@ -26,14 +26,14 @@ function Axios(instanceConfig) {
  *
  * @param {Object} config The config specific for this request (merged with this.defaults)
  */
-Axios.prototype.request = function request(config) {
+Axios.prototype.request = function request(configOrUrl, config) {
   /*eslint no-param-reassign:0*/
   // Allow for axios('example/url'[, config]) a la fetch API
-  if (typeof config === 'string') {
-    config = arguments[1] || {};
-    config.url = arguments[0];
-  } else {
+  if (typeof configOrUrl === 'string') {
     config = config || {};
+    config.url = configOrUrl;
+  } else {
+    config = configOrUrl || {};
   }
 
   config = mergeConfig(this.defaults, config);