diff --git a/lib/Cake/Console/Shell.php b/lib/Cake/Console/Shell.php
index 8301819498c..aff88e7bb73 100644
--- a/lib/Cake/Console/Shell.php
+++ b/lib/Cake/Console/Shell.php
@@ -174,6 +174,13 @@ class Shell extends Object {
  */
 	protected $_lastWritten = 0;
 
+/**
+ * Contains helpers which have been previously instantiated
+ *
+ * @var array
+ */
+    protected $_helpers = array();
+
 /**
  *  Constructs this Shell instance.
  *
@@ -779,6 +786,29 @@ public function createFile($path, $contents) {
 		return false;
 	}
 
+/**
+ * Load given shell helper class
+ *
+ * @param string $name Name of the helper class. Supports plugin syntax.
+ * @return ShellHelper Instance of helper class
+ * @throws RunTimeException If invalid class name is provided
+ */
+    public function helper($name)
+    {
+        list($plugin, $helperClassName) = pluginSplit($name, true);
+        $helperClassName = Inflector::camelize($name) . "ShellHelper";
+        if (isset($this->_helpers[$name])) {
+            return $this->_helpers[$name];
+        }
+        App::uses($helperClassName, $plugin . "Console/Helper");
+        if (!class_exists($helperClassName)) {
+            throw new RuntimeException("Class " . $helperClassName . " not found");
+        }
+        $helper = new $helperClassName($this->stdout);
+        $this->_helpers[$name] = $helper;
+        return $helper;
+    }
+
 /**
  * Action to create a Unit Test
  *
diff --git a/lib/Cake/Test/Case/Console/ShellTest.php b/lib/Cake/Test/Case/Console/ShellTest.php
index c7f5d86f70d..53ca60b8899 100644
--- a/lib/Cake/Test/Case/Console/ShellTest.php
+++ b/lib/Cake/Test/Case/Console/ShellTest.php
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 App::uses('ShellDispatcher', 'Console');
 App::uses('Shell', 'Console');
 App::uses('Folder', 'Utility');
+App::uses("ProgressHelper", "Console/Helper");
 
 /**
  * ShellTestShell class
@@ -975,4 +976,25 @@ public function testQuietLog() {
 		$this->Shell->runCommand('foo', array('--quiet'));
 	}
 
+/**
+ * Test getting an instance of a helper
+ *
+ * @return void
+ */
+    public function testGetInstanceOfHelper()
+    {
+        $actual = $this->Shell->helper("progress");
+        $this->assertInstanceOf("ProgressShellHelper", $actual);
+    }
+
+/**
+ * Test getting an invalid helper
+ *
+ * @expectedException RunTimeException
+ */
+    public function testGetInvalidHelper()
+    {
+        $this->Shell->helper("tomato");
+    }
+
 }