diff --git a/pelican/generators.py b/pelican/generators.py
index b7612fa2..f8be3827 100644
--- a/pelican/generators.py
+++ b/pelican/generators.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 from __future__ import unicode_literals, print_function
 
 import os
+import imp
 import math
 import random
 import logging
@@ -62,6 +63,14 @@ class Generator(object):
             ]),
             extensions=self.settings['JINJA_EXTENSIONS'],
         )
+        try:
+            theme_functions = imp.load_source('theme_functions', self._templates_path[0]+'/functions.py')
+        except IOError:
+            theme_functions = None
+
+        if theme_functions and '__export__' in vars(theme_functions):
+            for func_name in theme_functions.__export__:
+                self.env.globals[func_name] = getattr(theme_functions, func_name)
 
         logger.debug('template list: {0}'.format(self.env.list_templates()))
 
diff --git a/pelican/themes/simple/templates/functions.py b/pelican/themes/simple/templates/functions.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..de40bd78
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pelican/themes/simple/templates/functions.py
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+# encoding: utf-8
+
+__export__ = ["helperFunction"]
+
+def helperFunction():
+    return "<p>I'm from a helper function!</p>"
+
+def anotherHelper():
+    return "I'm not being exported!"