diff --git a/collects/net/open-url.ss b/collects/net/open-url.ss
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c1194307d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/collects/net/open-url.ss
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+(module open-url mzscheme
+  (provide open-url)
+  
+  (define (open-url str)
+    (case (system-type)
+      [(macos)
+       (send-event "MACS" "GURL" "GURL" str)]
+      [(unix)
+       (define netscape-path (find-executable-path "netscape" #f))
+       
+       (unless netscape-path
+         (error 'open-url "Couldn't find Netscape."))
+       
+       (or (system* netscape-path "-remote" (format "openURL(~a)" url))
+           (let-values ([(out in id err status) (apply values (process* netscape-path url))])
+             (close-output-port in)
+             (close-input-port out)
+             (close-input-port err)))]
+      [else (error 'open-url "don't know how to open url on platform: ~s" (system-type))])))