diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f8dcf8d..953c886 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -494,8 +494,9 @@ Dog.reindex # equivalent
 And to search, use:
 
 ```ruby
-Animal.search "*" # all animals
-Dog.search "*"    # just dogs
+Animal.search "*"                   # all animals
+Dog.search "*"                      # just dogs
+Animal.search "*", type: [Dog, Cat] # just cats and dogs
 ```
 
 **Note:** The `suggest` option retrieves suggestions from the parent at the moment.
diff --git a/lib/searchkick/search.rb b/lib/searchkick/search.rb
index ba6dd02..4c95350 100644
--- a/lib/searchkick/search.rb
+++ b/lib/searchkick/search.rb
@@ -358,7 +358,9 @@ module Searchkick
       payload[:fields] = [] if load
 
       tire_options = {load: load, payload: payload, size: per_page, from: offset}
-      tire_options[:type] = handle_types(options[:types])
+      if options[:type] or self != searchkick_klass
+        tire_options[:type] = [options[:type] || self].flatten.map(&:document_type)
+      end
       search = Tire::Search::Search.new(index_name, tire_options)
       begin
         response = search.json
@@ -385,11 +387,5 @@ module Searchkick
       Searchkick::Results.new(response, search.options.merge(term: term))
     end
 
-    private
-      def handle_types(types)
-        return types.map(&:document_type) if types
-        document_type if self != searchkick_klass
-      end
-
   end
 end
diff --git a/test/inheritance_test.rb b/test/inheritance_test.rb
index 3706f4f..44e0633 100644
--- a/test/inheritance_test.rb
+++ b/test/inheritance_test.rb
@@ -28,13 +28,14 @@ class TestInheritance < Minitest::Unit::TestCase
   def test_force_one_type
     store_names ["Green Bear"], Dog
     store_names ["Blue Bear"], Cat
-    assert_equal ["Blue Bear"], Animal.search("bear", types: [Cat]).map(&:name)
+    assert_equal ["Blue Bear"], Animal.search("bear", type: [Cat]).map(&:name)
   end
 
   def test_force_multiple_types
     store_names ["Green Bear"], Dog
     store_names ["Blue Bear"], Cat
-    assert_equal ["Green Bear", "Blue Bear"], Animal.search("bear", types: [Dog, Cat]).map(&:name)
+    store_names ["Red Bear"], Animal
+    assert_equal ["Green Bear", "Blue Bear"], Animal.search("bear", type: [Dog, Cat]).map(&:name)
   end
 
   def test_child_autocomplete
--
libgit2 0.21.0