diff --git a/IPython/__init__.py b/IPython/__init__.py
index 0252940c746..df5434645ea 100644
--- a/IPython/__init__.py
+++ b/IPython/__init__.py
@@ -44,10 +44,12 @@
 from .core import release
 from .core.application import Application
 from .frontend.terminal.embed import embed
+
 from .core.error import TryNext
 from .core.interactiveshell import InteractiveShell
 from .testing import test
 from .utils.sysinfo import sys_info
+from .utils.frame import extract_module_locals_above
 
 # Release data
 __author__ = ''
@@ -55,3 +57,14 @@
     __author__ += author + ' <' + email + '>\n'
 __license__  = release.license
 __version__  = release.version
+
+def embed_kernel(module=None, local_ns=None):
+    """Call this to embed an IPython kernel at the current point in your program. """
+    (caller_module, caller_locals) = extract_module_locals_above()
+    if module is None:
+        module = caller_module
+    if local_ns is None:
+        local_ns = caller_locals
+    # Only import .zmq when we really need it
+    from .zmq.ipkernel import embed_kernel as real_embed_kernel
+    real_embed_kernel(module, local_ns)
diff --git a/IPython/utils/frame.py b/IPython/utils/frame.py
index 2fb61421a50..cd3563ac22e 100644
--- a/IPython/utils/frame.py
+++ b/IPython/utils/frame.py
@@ -85,3 +85,16 @@ def debugx(expr,pre_msg=''):
 # deactivate it by uncommenting the following line, which makes it a no-op
 #def debugx(expr,pre_msg=''): pass
 
+def extract_module_locals(depth=0):
+    """Returns (module, locals) of the funciton `depth` frames away from the caller"""
+    f = sys._getframe(depth + 1)
+    global_ns = f.f_globals
+    module = sys.modules[global_ns['__name__']]
+    return (module, f.f_locals)
+
+def extract_module_locals_above():
+    """Returns (module, locals) of the funciton calling the caller.
+    Like extract_module_locals() with a specified depth of 1."""
+    # we're one frame away from the target, the function we call would be two frames away
+    return extract_module_locals(1 + 1)
+
diff --git a/IPython/zmq/ipkernel.py b/IPython/zmq/ipkernel.py
index edc5c9ac330..968ca3f95df 100755
--- a/IPython/zmq/ipkernel.py
+++ b/IPython/zmq/ipkernel.py
@@ -70,6 +70,8 @@ class Kernel(Configurable):
     iopub_socket = Instance('zmq.Socket')
     stdin_socket = Instance('zmq.Socket')
     log = Instance(logging.Logger)
+    user_module = Instance('types.ModuleType')
+    user_ns     = Dict(default_value=None)
 
     # Private interface
 
@@ -110,6 +112,8 @@ def __init__(self, **kwargs):
         # Initialize the InteractiveShell subclass
         self.shell = ZMQInteractiveShell.instance(config=self.config,
             profile_dir = self.profile_dir,
+            user_module = self.user_module,
+            user_ns     = self.user_ns,
         )
         self.shell.displayhook.session = self.session
         self.shell.displayhook.pub_socket = self.iopub_socket
@@ -585,6 +589,8 @@ def init_kernel(self):
                                 stdin_socket=self.stdin_socket,
                                 log=self.log,
                                 profile_dir=self.profile_dir,
+                                user_module=self.user_module,
+                                user_ns=self.user_ns,
         )
         self.kernel = kernel
         kernel.record_ports(self.ports)
@@ -639,6 +645,10 @@ def launch_kernel(*args, **kwargs):
     return base_launch_kernel('from IPython.zmq.ipkernel import main; main()',
                               *args, **kwargs)
 
+def embed_kernel(module, local_ns):
+    app = IPKernelApp.instance(user_module=module, user_ns=local_ns)
+    app.initialize([])
+    app.start()
 
 def main():
     """Run an IPKernel as an application"""