diff --git a/Doc/api/refcounting.tex b/Doc/api/refcounting.tex
index 03530f0..42b9e6a 100644
--- a/Doc/api/refcounting.tex
+++ b/Doc/api/refcounting.tex
@@ -42,6 +42,11 @@
   applies.
 \end{cfuncdesc}
 
+The following functions are for runtime dynamic embedding of Python:
+\cfunction{Py_IncRef(PyObject *o)}, \cfunction{Py_DecRef(PyObject *o)}.
+They are simply exported function versions of \cfunction{Py_XINCREF()} and 
+\cfunction{Py_XDECREF()}, respectively.
+
 The following functions or macros are only for use within the
 interpreter core: \cfunction{_Py_Dealloc()},
 \cfunction{_Py_ForgetReference()}, \cfunction{_Py_NewReference()}, as
diff --git a/Include/object.h b/Include/object.h
index f6135ee..555d810 100644
--- a/Include/object.h
+++ b/Include/object.h
@@ -625,6 +625,13 @@
 #define Py_XDECREF(op) if ((op) == NULL) ; else Py_DECREF(op)
 
 /*
+These are provided as conveniences to Python runtime embedders, so that
+they can have object code that is not dependent on Python compilation flags.
+*/
+PyAPI_FUNC(void) Py_IncRef(PyObject *);
+PyAPI_FUNC(void) Py_DecRef(PyObject *);
+
+/*
 _Py_NoneStruct is an object of undefined type which can be used in contexts
 where NULL (nil) is not suitable (since NULL often means 'error').
 
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index b713316..70e37d7 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -471,6 +471,10 @@
 C API
 -----
 
+- New public functions Py_IncRef() and Py_DecRef(), exposing the
+  functionality of the Py_XINCREF() and Py_XDECREF macros. Useful for
+  runtime dynamic embedding of Python.
+
 - Added a new macro, PySequence_Fast_ITEMS, which retrieves a fast sequence's
   underlying array of PyObject pointers.  Useful for high speed looping.
 
diff --git a/Objects/object.c b/Objects/object.c
index ba9a1d9..22196d7 100644
--- a/Objects/object.c
+++ b/Objects/object.c
@@ -146,6 +146,18 @@
 
 #endif /* Py_REF_DEBUG */
 
+void
+Py_IncRef(PyObject *o)
+{
+    Py_XINCREF(o);
+}
+
+void
+Py_DecRef(PyObject *o)
+{
+    Py_XDECREF(o);
+}
+
 PyObject *
 PyObject_Init(PyObject *op, PyTypeObject *tp)
 {