diff --git a/zk_shell/shell.py b/zk_shell/shell.py
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/zk_shell/shell.py
+++ b/zk_shell/shell.py
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ def check_path_exists(func):
         params = args[1]
         path = params.path
         params.path = self.abspath(path if path not in ["", "."] else self.curdir)
-        if self._zk.exists(params.path):
+        if self.client.exists(params.path):
             return func(self, params)
         print("Path %s doesn't exist" % (path), file=self.output)
         return False
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ def check_path_absent(func):
         params = args[1]
         path = params.path
         params.path = self.abspath(path if path != '' else self.curdir)
-        if not self._zk.exists(params.path):
+        if not self.client.exists(params.path):
             return func(self, params)
         print("Path %s already exists" % (path))
     return wrapper
@@ -121,6 +121,10 @@ class Shell(AugumentedCmd):
         if not self.connected: self.update_curdir("/")
 
     @property
+    def client(self):
+        return self._zk
+
+    @property
     def output(self):
         return self._output
Add client @property to expose the Shell's ZK client