diff --git a/src/generic/Matrix.jl b/src/generic/Matrix.jl
index 0a8384c450..f56f5672bf 100644
--- a/src/generic/Matrix.jl
+++ b/src/generic/Matrix.jl
@@ -138,6 +138,18 @@ end
 #
 ###############################################################################
 
+@doc Markdown.doc"""
+    nrows(a::Generic.MatrixSpace)
+> Return the number of rows of the given matrix space.
+"""
+nrows(a::MatSpace) = a.nrows
+
+@doc Markdown.doc"""
+    ncols(a::Generic.MatrixSpace)
+> Return the number of columns of the given matrix space.
+"""
+ncols(a::MatSpace) = a.ncols
+
 function Base.hash(a::AbstractAlgebra.MatElem, h::UInt)
    b = 0x3e4ea81eb31d94f4%UInt
    for i in 1:nrows(a)
@@ -151,7 +163,7 @@ end
 
 @doc Markdown.doc"""
     nrows(a::Generic.MatrixElem)
-> Return the number of nrows of the given matrix.
+> Return the number of rows of the given matrix.
 """
 nrows(a::MatrixElem) = size(a.entries, 1)
 
diff --git a/test/generic/Matrix-test.jl b/test/generic/Matrix-test.jl
index 77a717609d..c686c1b782 100644
--- a/test/generic/Matrix-test.jl
+++ b/test/generic/Matrix-test.jl
@@ -85,6 +85,9 @@ function test_gen_mat_constructors()
    @test elem_type(S) == Generic.Mat{elem_type(R)}
    @test elem_type(Generic.MatSpace{elem_type(R)}) == Generic.Mat{elem_type(R)}
    @test parent_type(Generic.Mat{elem_type(R)}) == Generic.MatSpace{elem_type(R)}
+   @test base_ring(S) == R
+   @test nrows(S) == 3
+   @test ncols(S) == 3
 
    @test typeof(S) <: Generic.MatSpace