diff --git a/lib/jade.js b/lib/jade.js
index e3611ece4..dfcadc67a 100755
--- a/lib/jade.js
+++ b/lib/jade.js
@@ -179,10 +179,10 @@ function parse(str, options){
 
         try {
             return ''
-                + attrs.toString()
-                + escape.toString()
+                + attrs.toString() + '\n\n'
+                + escape.toString()  + '\n\n'
                 + 'var buf = [];\n'
-                + 'with (locals) {' + js + '}'
+                + 'with (locals || {}) {' + js + '}'
                 + 'return buf.join("");';
         } catch (err) {
             process.compile(js, filename || 'Jade');
@@ -193,6 +193,23 @@ function parse(str, options){
     }
 }
 
+/**
+ * Compile a `Function` representation of the given jade `str`.
+ *
+ * @param {String} str
+ * @param {Options} options
+ * @return {Function}
+ * @api public
+ */
+
+exports.compile = function(str, options){
+    var fn = [
+        'var _ = { lineno: 1 };',
+        parse(String(str), options || {})
+    ].join('\n');
+    return new Function('locals', fn);
+};
+
 /**
  * Render the given `str` of jade.
  *
diff --git a/test/jade.test.js b/test/jade.test.js
index 339bc3c18..5bd2d8c01 100644
--- a/test/jade.test.js
+++ b/test/jade.test.js
@@ -837,5 +837,20 @@ module.exports = {
         beforeExit(function(){
             assert.equal(1, called);
         });
+    },
+    
+    'test .compile()': function(assert){
+        var fn = jade.compile('p foo');
+        assert.equal('<p>foo</p>', fn());
+    },
+    
+    'test .compile() locals': function(assert){
+        var fn = jade.compile('p= foo');
+        assert.equal('<p>bar</p>', fn({ foo: 'bar' }));
+    },
+    
+    'test .compile() scope': function(assert){
+        var fn = jade.compile('p= this.foo');
+        assert.equal('<p>bar</p>', fn.call({ foo: 'bar' }));
     }
 };
\ No newline at end of file