diff --git a/github/github.go b/github/github.go
index efde8f8dbab..d4952acabbc 100644
--- a/github/github.go
+++ b/github/github.go
@@ -522,6 +522,12 @@ func parseRate(r *http.Response) Rate {
 	return rate
 }
 
+type requestContext uint8
+
+const (
+	bypassRateLimitCheck requestContext = iota
+)
+
 // BareDo sends an API request and lets you handle the api response. If an error
 // or API Error occurs, the error will contain more information. Otherwise you
 // are supposed to read and close the response's Body. If rate limit is exceeded
@@ -538,12 +544,14 @@ func (c *Client) BareDo(ctx context.Context, req *http.Request) (*Response, erro
 
 	rateLimitCategory := category(req.URL.Path)
 
-	// If we've hit rate limit, don't make further requests before Reset time.
-	if err := c.checkRateLimitBeforeDo(req, rateLimitCategory); err != nil {
-		return &Response{
-			Response: err.Response,
-			Rate:     err.Rate,
-		}, err
+	if bypass := ctx.Value(bypassRateLimitCheck); bypass == nil {
+		// If we've hit rate limit, don't make further requests before Reset time.
+		if err := c.checkRateLimitBeforeDo(req, rateLimitCategory); err != nil {
+			return &Response{
+				Response: err.Response,
+				Rate:     err.Rate,
+			}, err
+		}
 	}
 
 	resp, err := c.client.Do(req)
@@ -1022,6 +1030,9 @@ func (c *Client) RateLimits(ctx context.Context) (*RateLimits, *Response, error)
 	response := new(struct {
 		Resources *RateLimits `json:"resources"`
 	})
+
+	// This resource is not subject to rate limits.
+	ctx = context.WithValue(ctx, bypassRateLimitCheck, true)
 	resp, err := c.Do(ctx, req, response)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, resp, err
diff --git a/github/github_test.go b/github/github_test.go
index 828898fd0e9..ce29af6a2eb 100644
--- a/github/github_test.go
+++ b/github/github_test.go
@@ -201,6 +201,9 @@ func testNewRequestAndDoFailure(t *testing.T, methodName string, client *Client,
 	client.BaseURL.Path = "/api-v3/"
 	client.rateLimits[0].Reset.Time = time.Now().Add(10 * time.Minute)
 	resp, err = f()
+	if bypass := resp.Request.Context().Value(bypassRateLimitCheck); bypass != nil {
+		return
+	}
 	if want := http.StatusForbidden; resp == nil || resp.Response.StatusCode != want {
 		if resp != nil {
 			t.Errorf("rate.Reset.Time > now %v resp = %#v, want StatusCode=%v", methodName, resp.Response, want)
@@ -1711,6 +1714,52 @@ func TestRateLimits_coverage(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 }
 
+func TestRateLimits_overQuota(t *testing.T) {
+	client, mux, _, teardown := setup()
+	defer teardown()
+
+	client.rateLimits[coreCategory] = Rate{
+		Limit:     1,
+		Remaining: 0,
+		Reset:     Timestamp{time.Now().Add(time.Hour).Local()},
+	}
+	mux.HandleFunc("/rate_limit", func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		fmt.Fprint(w, `{"resources":{
+			"core": {"limit":2,"remaining":1,"reset":1372700873},
+			"search": {"limit":3,"remaining":2,"reset":1372700874}
+		}}`)
+	})
+
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	rate, _, err := client.RateLimits(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("RateLimits returned error: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	want := &RateLimits{
+		Core: &Rate{
+			Limit:     2,
+			Remaining: 1,
+			Reset:     Timestamp{time.Date(2013, time.July, 1, 17, 47, 53, 0, time.UTC).Local()},
+		},
+		Search: &Rate{
+			Limit:     3,
+			Remaining: 2,
+			Reset:     Timestamp{time.Date(2013, time.July, 1, 17, 47, 54, 0, time.UTC).Local()},
+		},
+	}
+	if !cmp.Equal(rate, want) {
+		t.Errorf("RateLimits returned %+v, want %+v", rate, want)
+	}
+
+	if got, want := client.rateLimits[coreCategory], *want.Core; got != want {
+		t.Errorf("client.rateLimits[coreCategory] is %+v, want %+v", got, want)
+	}
+	if got, want := client.rateLimits[searchCategory], *want.Search; got != want {
+		t.Errorf("client.rateLimits[searchCategory] is %+v, want %+v", got, want)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestSetCredentialsAsHeaders(t *testing.T) {
 	req := new(http.Request)
 	id, secret := "id", "secret"