diff --git a/Python/sysmodule.c b/Python/sysmodule.c
index 34f7c96..ebe9a94 100644
--- a/Python/sysmodule.c
+++ b/Python/sysmodule.c
@@ -143,6 +143,41 @@
 exit status will be one (i.e., failure).";
 
 static PyObject *
+sys_get_string_encoding(self, args)
+	PyObject *self;
+	PyObject *args;
+{
+	if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, ":get_string_encoding"))
+		return NULL;
+	return PyString_FromString(PyUnicode_GetDefaultEncoding());
+}
+
+static char get_string_encoding_doc[] =
+"get_string_encoding() -> string\n\
+\n\
+Return the current default string encoding used by the Unicode \n\
+implementation.";
+
+static PyObject *
+sys_set_string_encoding(self, args)
+	PyObject *self;
+	PyObject *args;
+{
+	char *encoding;
+	if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s:set_string_encoding", &encoding))
+		return NULL;
+	if (PyUnicode_SetDefaultEncoding(encoding))
+	    	return NULL;
+	Py_INCREF(Py_None);
+	return Py_None;
+}
+
+static char set_string_encoding_doc[] =
+"set_string_encoding(encoding)\n\
+\n\
+Set the current default string encoding used by the Unicode implementation.";
+
+static PyObject *
 sys_settrace(self, args)
 	PyObject *self;
 	PyObject *args;
@@ -266,6 +301,7 @@
 	/* Might as well keep this in alphabetic order */
 	{"exc_info",	sys_exc_info, 1, exc_info_doc},
 	{"exit",	sys_exit, 0, exit_doc},
+	{"get_string_encoding", sys_get_string_encoding, 1, get_string_encoding_doc},
 #ifdef COUNT_ALLOCS
 	{"getcounts",	sys_getcounts, 1},
 #endif
@@ -279,6 +315,7 @@
 #ifdef USE_MALLOPT
 	{"mdebug",	sys_mdebug, 1},
 #endif
+	{"set_string_encoding", sys_set_string_encoding, 1, set_string_encoding_doc},
 	{"setcheckinterval",	sys_setcheckinterval, 1, setcheckinterval_doc},
 	{"setprofile",	sys_setprofile, 0, setprofile_doc},
 	{"settrace",	sys_settrace, 0, settrace_doc},