diff --git a/collects/mred/mred-sig.ss b/collects/mred/mred-sig.ss
index a2933039..8456ad05 100644
--- a/collects/mred/mred-sig.ss
+++ b/collects/mred/mred-sig.ss
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@
      list-box%
      list-control<%>
      make-eventspace
+     make-namespace-with-mred
      menu%
      menu-bar%
      menu-item%
diff --git a/collects/mred/mred.ss b/collects/mred/mred.ss
index 58279d7f..e3aaeed6 100644
--- a/collects/mred/mred.ss
+++ b/collects/mred/mred.ss
@@ -6920,6 +6920,25 @@
 
 ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
 
+(define make-namespace-with-mred
+  (opt-lambda ([flag 'mred])
+    (unless (memq flag '(initial mred empty))
+      (raise-type-error 'make-namespace-with-mred
+			"flag symbol, one of 'mred, 'initial, or 'empty"
+			flag))
+    (let ([orig (current-namespace)]
+	  [mred-name ((current-module-name-resolver)
+		      '(lib "mred.ss" "mred") #f #f)]
+	  [ns (make-namespace (if (eq? flag 'empty) 'empty 'initial))])
+      (parameterize ([current-namespace ns])
+	(namespace-attach-module orig mred-name)
+	(when (eq? flag 'mred)
+	  (namespace-require '(lib "mred.ss" "mred"))
+	  (namespace-require '(lib "class.ss"))))
+      ns)))
+
+;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
+
 (define-syntax propagate
   (lambda (stx)
     (syntax-case stx ()
@@ -7119,7 +7138,8 @@
 	text-editor-load-handler
 	application-about-handler
 	application-preferences-handler
-	current-eventspace-has-standard-menus?)
+	current-eventspace-has-standard-menus?
+	make-namespace-with-mred)
 
 
 ) ;; end of module