A self-dispersing curable epoxy composition is prepared upon contacting (a) 1.0 reactive equivalents of an epoxy resin, (b) between 0.005 and 0.5 reactive equivalents of an amine-epoxy adduct, and optionally (c) from about 0.01 to 1.0 reactive equivalents of a polyhydric phenol, wherein the amine-epoxy adduct is formed upon contacting 1.0 equivalents of an aliphatic polyepoxide and greater than 1.0 but no more than about 2.5 reactive equivalents of a polyoxyalkyleneamine. The self-dispersing curable epoxy resin forms an aqueous dispersion upon mixing with water. When cured, the dispersion is useful as a coating composition.