diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/NonEmptyVector.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/NonEmptyVector.scala
index dcc7f4fb98..9da8c5e0b4 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/NonEmptyVector.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/NonEmptyVector.scala
@@ -223,6 +223,8 @@ object NonEmptyVector extends NonEmptyVectorInstances {
     new NonEmptyVector(buf.result)
   }
 
+  def unapply[A](nev: NonEmptyVector[A]): Some[(A, Vector[A])] = Some((nev.head, nev.tail))
+
   def fromVector[A](vector: Vector[A]): Option[NonEmptyVector[A]] =
     if (vector.isEmpty) None else Some(new NonEmptyVector(vector))
 
diff --git a/tests/src/test/scala/cats/tests/NonEmptyVectorTests.scala b/tests/src/test/scala/cats/tests/NonEmptyVectorTests.scala
index ca5c99ce7f..1cc6e4ca6e 100644
--- a/tests/src/test/scala/cats/tests/NonEmptyVectorTests.scala
+++ b/tests/src/test/scala/cats/tests/NonEmptyVectorTests.scala
@@ -243,6 +243,16 @@ class NonEmptyVectorTests extends CatsSuite {
     NonEmptyVector(1, Vector.empty).toVector.toString should === ("Vector(1)")
   }
 
+  test("NonEmptyVector.unapply supports pattern matching") {
+    forAll { (nonEmptyVector: NonEmptyVector[Int]) =>
+      nonEmptyVector match {
+        case NonEmptyVector(head, tail) =>
+          head should === (nonEmptyVector.head)
+          tail should === (nonEmptyVector.tail)
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
   test("Cannot create a new NonEmptyVector from constructor") {
     if(Platform.isJvm) {
       if (!Properties.versionNumberString.startsWith("2.10")) {