diff --git a/lib/i18n/backend/simple.rb b/lib/i18n/backend/simple.rb
index 0acc2989..1121bb51 100644
--- a/lib/i18n/backend/simple.rb
+++ b/lib/i18n/backend/simple.rb
@@ -68,6 +68,11 @@ def localize(locale, object, format = :default)
       def initialized?
         @initialized ||= false
       end
+      
+      def reload!
+        @initialized = false
+        @translations = nil
+      end
 
       protected
 
diff --git a/test/simple_backend_test.rb b/test/simple_backend_test.rb
index e4e4a950..4f510e4c 100644
--- a/test/simple_backend_test.rb
+++ b/test/simple_backend_test.rb
@@ -470,4 +470,33 @@ def test_load_translations_loads_from_different_file_formats
     }
     assert_equal expected, backend_get_translations
   end
+end
+
+class I18nSimpleBackendReloadTranslationsTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
+  include I18nSimpleBackendTestSetup
+  
+  def setup
+    @backend = I18n::Backend::Simple.new
+    I18n.load_path = [File.dirname(__FILE__) + '/locale/en-US.yml']
+    assert_nil backend_get_translations
+    @backend.send :init_translations
+  end
+  
+  def teardown
+    I18n.load_path = []
+  end
+  
+  def test_setup
+    assert_not_nil backend_get_translations
+  end
+  
+  def test_reload_translations_unloads_translations
+    @backend.reload!
+    assert_nil backend_get_translations
+  end
+  
+  def test_reload_translations_uninitializes_translations
+    @backend.reload!
+    assert_equal @backend.initialized?, false
+  end
 end
\ No newline at end of file