diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index b923d755..def255bf 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
     - `EmptyRouter`
     - `ExtractorMiddleware`
     - `ExtractorMiddlewareLayer`
+- Replace `axum::body::BoxStdError` with `axum::Error`, which supports downcasting ([#150](https://github.com/tokio-rs/axum/pull/150))
+- `WebSocket` now uses `axum::Error` as its error type ([#150](https://github.com/tokio-rs/axum/pull/150))
 
 # 0.1.3 (06. August, 2021)
 
diff --git a/src/body.rs b/src/body.rs
index c18c8823..5ec10bbc 100644
--- a/src/body.rs
+++ b/src/body.rs
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 //! HTTP body utilities.
 
+use crate::Error;
 use bytes::Bytes;
 use http_body::Body as _;
-use std::{error::Error as StdError, fmt};
 use tower::BoxError;
 
 #[doc(no_inline)]
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ pub use hyper::body::Body;
 ///
 /// This is used in axum as the response body type for applications. Its
 /// necessary to unify multiple response bodies types into one.
-pub type BoxBody = http_body::combinators::BoxBody<Bytes, BoxStdError>;
+pub type BoxBody = http_body::combinators::BoxBody<Bytes, Error>;
 
 /// Convert a [`http_body::Body`] into a [`BoxBody`].
 pub fn box_body<B>(body: B) -> BoxBody
@@ -20,28 +20,9 @@ where
     B: http_body::Body<Data = Bytes> + Send + Sync + 'static,
     B::Error: Into<BoxError>,
 {
-    body.map_err(|err| BoxStdError(err.into())).boxed()
+    body.map_err(Error::new).boxed()
 }
 
 pub(crate) fn empty() -> BoxBody {
     box_body(http_body::Empty::new())
 }
-
-/// A boxed error trait object that implements [`std::error::Error`].
-///
-/// This is necessary for compatibility with middleware that changes the error
-/// type of the response body.
-#[derive(Debug)]
-pub struct BoxStdError(pub(crate) tower::BoxError);
-
-impl StdError for BoxStdError {
-    fn source(&self) -> std::option::Option<&(dyn StdError + 'static)> {
-        self.0.source()
-    }
-}
-
-impl fmt::Display for BoxStdError {
-    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter) -> fmt::Result {
-        self.0.fmt(f)
-    }
-}
diff --git a/src/error.rs b/src/error.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..849d5ce8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/error.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+use std::{error::Error as StdError, fmt};
+use tower::BoxError;
+
+/// Errors that can happen when using axum.
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub struct Error {
+    inner: BoxError,
+}
+
+impl Error {
+    pub(crate) fn new(error: impl Into<BoxError>) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            inner: error.into(),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl fmt::Display for Error {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
+        self.inner.fmt(f)
+    }
+}
+
+impl StdError for Error {
+    fn source(&self) -> Option<&(dyn StdError + 'static)> {
+        Some(&*self.inner)
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/extract/form.rs b/src/extract/form.rs
index 0aed6856..1dc93fa2 100644
--- a/src/extract/form.rs
+++ b/src/extract/form.rs
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ use bytes::Buf;
 use http::Method;
 use serde::de::DeserializeOwned;
 use std::ops::Deref;
+use tower::BoxError;
 
 /// Extractor that deserializes `application/x-www-form-urlencoded` requests
 /// into some type.
@@ -44,7 +45,7 @@ where
     T: DeserializeOwned,
     B: http_body::Body + Send,
     B::Data: Send,
-    B::Error: Into<tower::BoxError>,
+    B::Error: Into<BoxError>,
 {
     type Rejection = FormRejection;
 
diff --git a/src/extract/rejection.rs b/src/extract/rejection.rs
index c2488b4a..adfa3628 100644
--- a/src/extract/rejection.rs
+++ b/src/extract/rejection.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,10 @@
 //! Rejection response types.
 
 use super::IntoResponse;
-use crate::body::{box_body, BoxBody, BoxStdError};
+use crate::{
+    body::{box_body, BoxBody},
+    Error,
+};
 use bytes::Bytes;
 use http_body::Full;
 use std::convert::Infallible;
@@ -46,7 +49,7 @@ define_rejection! {
     #[status = BAD_REQUEST]
     #[body = "Failed to parse the request body as JSON"]
     /// Rejection type for [`Json`](super::Json).
-    pub struct InvalidJsonBody(BoxError);
+    pub struct InvalidJsonBody(Error);
 }
 
 define_rejection! {
@@ -62,7 +65,7 @@ define_rejection! {
     #[body = "Missing request extension"]
     /// Rejection type for [`Extension`](super::Extension) if an expected
     /// request extension was not found.
-    pub struct MissingExtension(BoxError);
+    pub struct MissingExtension(Error);
 }
 
 define_rejection! {
@@ -70,7 +73,7 @@ define_rejection! {
     #[body = "Failed to buffer the request body"]
     /// Rejection type for extractors that buffer the request body. Used if the
     /// request body cannot be buffered due to an error.
-    pub struct FailedToBufferBody(BoxError);
+    pub struct FailedToBufferBody(Error);
 }
 
 define_rejection! {
@@ -78,7 +81,7 @@ define_rejection! {
     #[body = "Request body didn't contain valid UTF-8"]
     /// Rejection type used when buffering the request into a [`String`] if the
     /// body doesn't contain valid UTF-8.
-    pub struct InvalidUtf8(BoxError);
+    pub struct InvalidUtf8(Error);
 }
 
 define_rejection! {
@@ -183,7 +186,7 @@ impl IntoResponse for InvalidPathParam {
 /// couldn't be deserialized into the target type.
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub struct FailedToDeserializeQueryString {
-    error: BoxError,
+    error: Error,
     type_name: &'static str,
 }
 
@@ -193,7 +196,7 @@ impl FailedToDeserializeQueryString {
         E: Into<BoxError>,
     {
         FailedToDeserializeQueryString {
-            error: error.into(),
+            error: Error::new(error),
             type_name: std::any::type_name::<T>(),
         }
     }
@@ -330,7 +333,7 @@ where
     T: IntoResponse,
 {
     type Body = BoxBody;
-    type BodyError = BoxStdError;
+    type BodyError = Error;
 
     fn into_response(self) -> http::Response<Self::Body> {
         match self {
diff --git a/src/extract/request_parts.rs b/src/extract/request_parts.rs
index 2be45a12..f4afcdd4 100644
--- a/src/extract/request_parts.rs
+++ b/src/extract/request_parts.rs
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ use std::{
     pin::Pin,
     task::{Context, Poll},
 };
+use tower::BoxError;
 
 #[async_trait]
 impl<B> FromRequest<B> for Request<B>
@@ -176,7 +177,7 @@ impl<B> FromRequest<B> for Bytes
 where
     B: http_body::Body + Send,
     B::Data: Send,
-    B::Error: Into<tower::BoxError>,
+    B::Error: Into<BoxError>,
 {
     type Rejection = BytesRejection;
 
@@ -196,7 +197,7 @@ impl<B> FromRequest<B> for String
 where
     B: http_body::Body + Send,
     B::Data: Send,
-    B::Error: Into<tower::BoxError>,
+    B::Error: Into<BoxError>,
 {
     type Rejection = StringRejection;
 
diff --git a/src/extract/ws.rs b/src/extract/ws.rs
index 87e22adc..d2c07d7d 100644
--- a/src/extract/ws.rs
+++ b/src/extract/ws.rs
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@
 
 use self::rejection::*;
 use super::{rejection::*, FromRequest, RequestParts};
-use crate::response::IntoResponse;
+use crate::{response::IntoResponse, Error};
 use async_trait::async_trait;
 use bytes::Bytes;
 use futures_util::{
@@ -64,7 +64,6 @@ use tokio_tungstenite::{
     },
     WebSocketStream,
 };
-use tower::BoxError;
 
 /// Extractor for establishing WebSocket connections.
 ///
@@ -332,32 +331,32 @@ impl WebSocket {
     /// Receive another message.
     ///
     /// Returns `None` if the stream stream has closed.
-    pub async fn recv(&mut self) -> Option<Result<Message, BoxError>> {
+    pub async fn recv(&mut self) -> Option<Result<Message, Error>> {
         self.next().await
     }
 
     /// Send a message.
-    pub async fn send(&mut self, msg: Message) -> Result<(), BoxError> {
+    pub async fn send(&mut self, msg: Message) -> Result<(), Error> {
         self.inner
             .send(msg.into_tungstenite())
             .await
-            .map_err(Into::into)
+            .map_err(Error::new)
     }
 
     /// Gracefully close this WebSocket.
-    pub async fn close(mut self) -> Result<(), BoxError> {
-        self.inner.close(None).await.map_err(Into::into)
+    pub async fn close(mut self) -> Result<(), Error> {
+        self.inner.close(None).await.map_err(Error::new)
     }
 }
 
 impl Stream for WebSocket {
-    type Item = Result<Message, BoxError>;
+    type Item = Result<Message, Error>;
 
     fn poll_next(mut self: Pin<&mut Self>, cx: &mut Context<'_>) -> Poll<Option<Self::Item>> {
         self.inner.poll_next_unpin(cx).map(|option_msg| {
             option_msg.map(|result_msg| {
                 result_msg
-                    .map_err(Into::into)
+                    .map_err(Error::new)
                     .map(Message::from_tungstenite)
             })
         })
@@ -365,24 +364,24 @@ impl Stream for WebSocket {
 }
 
 impl Sink<Message> for WebSocket {
-    type Error = BoxError;
+    type Error = Error;
 
     fn poll_ready(mut self: Pin<&mut Self>, cx: &mut Context<'_>) -> Poll<Result<(), Self::Error>> {
-        Pin::new(&mut self.inner).poll_ready(cx).map_err(Into::into)
+        Pin::new(&mut self.inner).poll_ready(cx).map_err(Error::new)
     }
 
     fn start_send(mut self: Pin<&mut Self>, item: Message) -> Result<(), Self::Error> {
         Pin::new(&mut self.inner)
             .start_send(item.into_tungstenite())
-            .map_err(Into::into)
+            .map_err(Error::new)
     }
 
     fn poll_flush(mut self: Pin<&mut Self>, cx: &mut Context<'_>) -> Poll<Result<(), Self::Error>> {
-        Pin::new(&mut self.inner).poll_flush(cx).map_err(Into::into)
+        Pin::new(&mut self.inner).poll_flush(cx).map_err(Error::new)
     }
 
     fn poll_close(mut self: Pin<&mut Self>, cx: &mut Context<'_>) -> Poll<Result<(), Self::Error>> {
-        Pin::new(&mut self.inner).poll_close(cx).map_err(Into::into)
+        Pin::new(&mut self.inner).poll_close(cx).map_err(Error::new)
     }
 }
 
@@ -483,12 +482,12 @@ impl Message {
     }
 
     /// Attempt to consume the WebSocket message and convert it to a String.
-    pub fn into_text(self) -> Result<String, BoxError> {
+    pub fn into_text(self) -> Result<String, Error> {
         match self {
             Self::Text(string) => Ok(string),
-            Self::Binary(data) | Self::Ping(data) | Self::Pong(data) => {
-                Ok(String::from_utf8(data).map_err(|err| err.utf8_error())?)
-            }
+            Self::Binary(data) | Self::Ping(data) | Self::Pong(data) => Ok(String::from_utf8(data)
+                .map_err(|err| err.utf8_error())
+                .map_err(Error::new)?),
             Self::Close(None) => Ok(String::new()),
             Self::Close(Some(frame)) => Ok(frame.reason.into_owned()),
         }
@@ -496,11 +495,11 @@ impl Message {
 
     /// Attempt to get a &str from the WebSocket message,
     /// this will try to convert binary data to utf8.
-    pub fn to_text(&self) -> Result<&str, BoxError> {
+    pub fn to_text(&self) -> Result<&str, Error> {
         match *self {
             Self::Text(ref string) => Ok(string),
             Self::Binary(ref data) | Self::Ping(ref data) | Self::Pong(ref data) => {
-                Ok(std::str::from_utf8(data)?)
+                Ok(std::str::from_utf8(data).map_err(Error::new)?)
             }
             Self::Close(None) => Ok(""),
             Self::Close(Some(ref frame)) => Ok(&frame.reason),
diff --git a/src/json.rs b/src/json.rs
index b0df06be..a62158ed 100644
--- a/src/json.rs
+++ b/src/json.rs
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ use std::{
     convert::Infallible,
     ops::{Deref, DerefMut},
 };
+use tower::BoxError;
 
 /// JSON Extractor/Response
 ///
@@ -89,7 +90,7 @@ where
     T: DeserializeOwned,
     B: http_body::Body + Send,
     B::Data: Send,
-    B::Error: Into<tower::BoxError>,
+    B::Error: Into<BoxError>,
 {
     type Rejection = JsonRejection;
 
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 8e0d2369..18968381 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@
 //!
 //! ```rust
 //! use axum::{prelude::*, body::BoxBody};
-//! use tower::{Service, ServiceExt, BoxError};
+//! use tower::{Service, ServiceExt};
 //! use http::{Method, Response, StatusCode};
 //! use std::convert::Infallible;
 //!
@@ -563,7 +563,7 @@
 //! use tower_http::services::ServeFile;
 //! use http::Response;
 //! use std::convert::Infallible;
-//! use tower::{service_fn, BoxError};
+//! use tower::service_fn;
 //!
 //! let app = route(
 //!     // Any request to `/` goes to a service
@@ -715,6 +715,7 @@ use tower::Service;
 pub(crate) mod macros;
 
 mod buffer;
+mod error;
 mod json;
 mod util;
 
@@ -729,14 +730,16 @@ pub mod sse;
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests;
 
+#[doc(no_inline)]
 pub use async_trait::async_trait;
 #[doc(no_inline)]
 pub use http;
 #[doc(no_inline)]
 pub use hyper::Server;
+#[doc(no_inline)]
 pub use tower_http::add_extension::{AddExtension, AddExtensionLayer};
 
-pub use crate::json::Json;
+pub use self::{error::Error, json::Json};
 
 pub mod prelude {
     //! Re-exports of important traits, types, and functions used with axum. Meant to be glob
diff --git a/src/macros.rs b/src/macros.rs
index cfb09eeb..daf4d0dd 100644
--- a/src/macros.rs
+++ b/src/macros.rs
@@ -64,18 +64,18 @@ macro_rules! define_rejection {
         #[status = $status:ident]
         #[body = $body:expr]
         $(#[$m:meta])*
-        pub struct $name:ident (BoxError);
+        pub struct $name:ident (Error);
     ) => {
         $(#[$m])*
         #[derive(Debug)]
-        pub struct $name(pub(crate) tower::BoxError);
+        pub struct $name(pub(crate) crate::Error);
 
         impl $name {
             pub(crate) fn from_err<E>(err: E) -> Self
             where
                 E: Into<tower::BoxError>,
             {
-                Self(err.into())
+                Self(crate::Error::new(err))
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/src/response.rs b/src/response.rs
index e0c7ad97..6036e7e8 100644
--- a/src/response.rs
+++ b/src/response.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 //! Types and traits for generating responses.
 
-use crate::body::{box_body, BoxBody, BoxStdError};
+use crate::{
+    body::{box_body, BoxBody},
+    Error,
+};
 use bytes::Bytes;
 use http::{header, HeaderMap, HeaderValue, Response, StatusCode};
 use http_body::{
@@ -139,7 +142,7 @@ where
     K: IntoResponse,
 {
     type Body = BoxBody;
-    type BodyError = BoxStdError;
+    type BodyError = Error;
 
     fn into_response(self) -> Response<Self::Body> {
         match self {
@@ -155,7 +158,7 @@ where
     E: IntoResponse,
 {
     type Body = BoxBody;
-    type BodyError = BoxStdError;
+    type BodyError = Error;
 
     fn into_response(self) -> Response<Self::Body> {
         match self {
diff --git a/src/sse.rs b/src/sse.rs
index 1fa13a1e..4a967a84 100644
--- a/src/sse.rs
+++ b/src/sse.rs
@@ -70,9 +70,10 @@
 //! ```
 
 use crate::{
-    body::{box_body, BoxBody, BoxStdError},
+    body::{box_body, BoxBody},
     extract::{FromRequest, RequestParts},
     response::IntoResponse,
+    Error,
 };
 use async_trait::async_trait;
 use futures_util::{
@@ -276,7 +277,7 @@ where
 
                 let stream = stream
                     .map_ok(|event| event.to_string())
-                    .map_err(|err| BoxStdError(err.into()))
+                    .map_err(Error::new)
                     .into_stream();
 
                 let body = box_body(Body::wrap_stream(stream));