diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index fef185eb..364d3609 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -116,9 +116,10 @@ matrix:
         - cargo build --target=x86_64-unknown-netbsd
         # - cargo build --target=x86_64-unknown-redox
         - cargo build --target=x86_64-fortanix-unknown-sgx
-        - cargo xbuild --target=x86_64-unknown-uefi
-        - cargo xbuild --target=x86_64-unknown-hermit
-        - cargo xbuild --target=x86_64-unknown-l4re-uclibc
+        - cargo xbuild --target=x86_64-unknown-uefi --no-default-features
+        - cargo xbuild --target=x86_64-unknown-hermit --no-default-features
+        - cargo xbuild --target=x86_64-unknown-l4re-uclibc --no-default-features
+        - cargo xbuild --target=x86_64-uwp-windows-gnu --no-default-features
         # also test minimum dependency versions are usable
         - cargo generate-lockfile -Z minimal-versions
         - cargo build --target=x86_64-sun-solaris
@@ -128,10 +129,10 @@ matrix:
         - cargo build --target=x86_64-unknown-netbsd
         # - cargo build --target=x86_64-unknown-redox
         - cargo build --target=x86_64-fortanix-unknown-sgx
-        - cargo xbuild --target=x86_64-unknown-uefi
-        - cargo xbuild --target=x86_64-unknown-hermit
-        - cargo xbuild --target=x86_64-unknown-l4re-uclibc
-        - cargo xbuild --target=x86_64-uwp-windows-gnu
+        - cargo xbuild --target=x86_64-unknown-uefi --no-default-features
+        - cargo xbuild --target=x86_64-unknown-hermit --no-default-features
+        - cargo xbuild --target=x86_64-unknown-l4re-uclibc --no-default-features
+        - cargo xbuild --target=x86_64-uwp-windows-gnu --no-default-features
 
     # Trust cross-built/emulated targets. We must repeat all non-default values.
     - name: "Linux (MIPS, big-endian)"
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 2fb7604d..68e99f81 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ wasm-bindgen = { version = "0.2.29", optional = true }
 stdweb = { version = "0.4.18", optional = true }
 
 [features]
+default = ["std"]
 std = []
 # enables dummy implementation for unsupported targets
 dummy = []
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 01bbfb5e..7e121da1 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -39,7 +39,15 @@ fn get_random_buf() -> Result<[u8; 32], getrandom::Error> {
 
 ## Features
 
-This library is `no_std` for every supported target. However, getting randomness
+By default, the `std` feature is enabled, allowing getrandom's
+[`Error`](https://docs.rs/getrandom/0.1.10/getrandom/struct.Error.html)
+to implement traits like
+[`std::error::Error`](https://doc.rust-lang.org/std/error/trait.Error.html). To
+use getrandom in a `no_std` environment, the `std` feature must be disabled by
+setting `default-features = false` in `Cargo.toml`. Without this feature, this
+library is `no_std` for every supported target.
+
+However, getting randomness
 usually requires calling some external system API. This means most platforms
 will require linking against system libraries (i.e. `libc` for Unix,
 `Advapi32.dll` for Windows, Security framework on iOS, etc...).