diff --git a/lib/class_builder.js b/lib/class_builder.js
index 280ac81..e3df1cd 100644
--- a/lib/class_builder.js
+++ b/lib/class_builder.js
@@ -211,6 +211,14 @@ exports.build = function extend()
     new_class.___$$props$$   = prop_init;
     new_class.___$$methods$$ = members;
 
+    // We reduce the overall cost of this definition by defining it on the
+    // prototype rather than during instantiation. While this does increase the
+    // amount of time it takes to access the property through the prototype
+    // chain, it takes much more time to define the property in this manner.
+    // Therefore, we can save a substantial amount of time by defining it on the
+    // prototype rather than on each new instance via __initProps().
+    util.defineSecureProp( prototype, '__self', new_class );
+
     // create internal metadata for the new class
     var meta = createMeta( new_class, base );
     meta.abstractMethods = abstract_methods;
@@ -488,10 +496,11 @@ function buildMembers(
  *
  * @param  {Object}  prototype   prototype to attach method to
  * @param  {Object}  properties  properties to initialize
- * @param  {number}  cid         class id
  *
  * @param  {{public: Object, protected: Object, private: Object}}  members
  *
+ * @param  {number}  cid         class id
+ *
  * @return  {undefined}
  */
 function attachPropInit( prototype, properties, members, cid )
diff --git a/test/test-class_builder-static.js b/test/test-class_builder-static.js
index e6fa8ed..77ba8f2 100644
--- a/test/test-class_builder-static.js
+++ b/test/test-class_builder-static.js
@@ -28,6 +28,27 @@ var common    = require( './common' ),
     fallback  = common.require( 'util' ).definePropertyFallback()
 ;
 
+
+/**
+ * To provide access to static members, this.__self is made available inside of
+ * instances.
+ */
+( function testSelfPropertyReferencesClassDefinition()
+{
+    var Foo = builder.build(
+    {
+        'public function test': function()
+        {
+            return this.__self;
+        },
+    } );
+
+    assert.deepEqual( Foo().test(), Foo,
+        "__self property references class definition"
+    );
+} )();
+
+
 /**
  * Static members, by their nature, should be accessible through the class
  * definition itself; that is, without instantiation. It should also not be