diff --git a/Doc/api/init.tex b/Doc/api/init.tex
index 2f21168..7949690 100644
--- a/Doc/api/init.tex
+++ b/Doc/api/init.tex
@@ -726,16 +726,21 @@
   The first parameter is the object passed to the registration
   function as \var{obj}, \var{frame} is the frame object to which the
   event pertains, \var{what} is one of the constants
-  \constant{PyTrace_CALL}, \constant{PyTrace_EXCEPT},
-  \constant{PyTrace_LINE} or \constant{PyTrace_RETURN}, and \var{arg}
+  \constant{PyTrace_CALL}, \constant{PyTrace_EXCEPTION},
+  \constant{PyTrace_LINE}, \constant{PyTrace_RETURN},
+  \constant{PyTrace_C_CALL}, \constant{PyTrace_C_EXCEPTION},
+  or \constant{PyTrace_C_RETURN}, and \var{arg}
   depends on the value of \var{what}:
 
   \begin{tableii}{l|l}{constant}{Value of \var{what}}{Meaning of \var{arg}}
     \lineii{PyTrace_CALL}{Always \NULL.}
-    \lineii{PyTrace_EXCEPT}{Exception information as returned by
+    \lineii{PyTrace_EXCEPTION}{Exception information as returned by
                             \function{sys.exc_info()}.}
     \lineii{PyTrace_LINE}{Always \NULL.}
     \lineii{PyTrace_RETURN}{Value being returned to the caller.}
+    \lineii{PyTrace_C_CALL}{Name of function being called.}
+    \lineii{PyTrace_C_EXCEPTION}{Always \NULL.}
+    \lineii{PyTrace_C_RETURN}{Always \NULL.}
   \end{tableii}
 \end{ctypedesc}
 
@@ -747,7 +752,7 @@
   control transfer to the Python bytecode in the corresponding frame.
 \end{cvardesc}
 
-\begin{cvardesc}{int}{PyTrace_EXCEPT}
+\begin{cvardesc}{int}{PyTrace_EXCEPTION}
   The value of the \var{what} parameter to a \ctype{Py_tracefunc}
   function when an exception has been raised.  The callback function
   is called with this value for \var{what} when after any bytecode is
@@ -770,6 +775,21 @@
   functions when a call is returning without propagating an exception.
 \end{cvardesc}
 
+\begin{cvardesc}{int}{PyTrace_C_CALL}
+  The value for the \var{what} parameter to \ctype{Py_tracefunc}
+  functions when a C function is about to be called.
+\end{cvardesc}
+
+\begin{cvardesc}{int}{PyTrace_C_EXCEPTION}
+  The value for the \var{what} parameter to \ctype{Py_tracefunc}
+  functions when a C function has thrown an exception.
+\end{cvardesc}
+
+\begin{cvardesc}{int}{PyTrace_C_RETURN}
+  The value for the \var{what} parameter to \ctype{Py_tracefunc}
+  functions when a C function has returned.
+\end{cvardesc}
+
 \begin{cfuncdesc}{void}{PyEval_SetProfile}{Py_tracefunc func, PyObject *obj}
   Set the profiler function to \var{func}.  The \var{obj} parameter is
   passed to the function as its first parameter, and may be any Python
diff --git a/Doc/lib/libpdb.tex b/Doc/lib/libpdb.tex
index ee9ab91..2229dc8 100644
--- a/Doc/lib/libpdb.tex
+++ b/Doc/lib/libpdb.tex
@@ -350,8 +350,9 @@
 
 Trace functions have three arguments: \var{frame}, \var{event}, and
 \var{arg}. \var{frame} is the current stack frame.  \var{event} is a
-string: \code{'call'}, \code{'line'}, \code{'return'} or
-\code{'exception'}.  \var{arg} depends on the event type.
+string: \code{'call'}, \code{'line'}, \code{'return'}, \code{'exception'},
+ \code{'c_call'}, \code{'c_return'}, or \code{'c_exception'}. \var{arg}
+ depends on the event type.
 
 The global trace function is invoked (with \var{event} set to
 \code{'call'}) whenever a new local scope is entered; it should return
@@ -390,6 +391,16 @@
 \var{traceback})}; the return value specifies the new local trace
 function.
 
+\item[\code{'c_call'}]
+A C function is about to be called.  This may be an extension function
+or a builtin.  \var{arg} is the C function name.
+
+\item[\code{'c_return'}]
+A C function has returned. \var{arg} is \code{None}.
+
+\item[\code{'c_exception'}]
+A C function has thrown an exception.  \var{arg} is \code{None}.
+
 \end{description}
 
 Note that as an exception is propagated down the chain of callers, an
diff --git a/Include/pystate.h b/Include/pystate.h
index ff35969..353a102 100644
--- a/Include/pystate.h
+++ b/Include/pystate.h
@@ -45,6 +45,9 @@
 #define PyTrace_EXCEPTION 1
 #define PyTrace_LINE 2
 #define PyTrace_RETURN 3
+#define PyTrace_C_CALL 4
+#define PyTrace_C_EXCEPTION 5
+#define PyTrace_C_RETURN 6
 
 typedef struct _ts {
 
diff --git a/Lib/bdb.py b/Lib/bdb.py
index 11ed212..19a9722 100644
--- a/Lib/bdb.py
+++ b/Lib/bdb.py
@@ -52,6 +52,12 @@
             return self.dispatch_return(frame, arg)
         if event == 'exception':
             return self.dispatch_exception(frame, arg)
+        if event == 'c_call':
+            return self.trace_dispatch
+        if event == 'c_exception':
+            return self.trace_dispatch
+        if event == 'c_return':
+            return self.trace_dispatch
         print 'bdb.Bdb.dispatch: unknown debugging event:', repr(event)
         return self.trace_dispatch
 
diff --git a/Lib/profile.py b/Lib/profile.py
index cf22377..99a5b62 100755
--- a/Lib/profile.py
+++ b/Lib/profile.py
@@ -163,6 +163,7 @@
         self.timings = {}
         self.cur = None
         self.cmd = ""
+        self.c_func_name = ""
 
         if bias is None:
             bias = self.bias
@@ -214,6 +215,9 @@
         t = timer()
         t = t[0] + t[1] - self.t - self.bias
 
+        if event == "c_call":
+            self.c_func_name = arg
+
         if self.dispatch[event](self, frame,t):
             t = timer()
             self.t = t[0] + t[1]
@@ -227,7 +231,11 @@
     def trace_dispatch_i(self, frame, event, arg):
         timer = self.timer
         t = timer() - self.t - self.bias
-        if self.dispatch[event](self, frame,t):
+
+        if event == "c_call":
+            self.c_func_name = arg
+
+        if self.dispatch[event](self, frame, t):
             self.t = timer()
         else:
             self.t = timer() - t  # put back unrecorded delta
@@ -238,6 +246,10 @@
     def trace_dispatch_mac(self, frame, event, arg):
         timer = self.timer
         t = timer()/60.0 - self.t - self.bias
+
+        if event == "c_call":
+            self.c_func_name = arg
+
         if self.dispatch[event](self, frame, t):
             self.t = timer()/60.0
         else:
@@ -249,6 +261,9 @@
         get_time = self.get_time
         t = get_time() - self.t - self.bias
 
+        if event == "c_call":
+            self.c_func_name = arg
+
         if self.dispatch[event](self, frame, t):
             self.t = get_time()
         else:
@@ -291,6 +306,17 @@
             timings[fn] = 0, 0, 0, 0, {}
         return 1
 
+    def trace_dispatch_c_call (self, frame, t):
+        fn = ("", 0, self.c_func_name)
+        self.cur = (t, 0, 0, fn, frame, self.cur)
+        timings = self.timings
+        if timings.has_key(fn):
+            cc, ns, tt, ct, callers = timings[fn]
+            timings[fn] = cc, ns+1, tt, ct, callers
+        else:
+            timings[fn] = 0, 0, 0, 0, {}
+        return 1
+
     def trace_dispatch_return(self, frame, t):
         if frame is not self.cur[-2]:
             assert frame is self.cur[-2].f_back, ("Bad return", self.cur[-3])
@@ -333,6 +359,9 @@
         "call": trace_dispatch_call,
         "exception": trace_dispatch_exception,
         "return": trace_dispatch_return,
+        "c_call": trace_dispatch_c_call,
+        "c_exception": trace_dispatch_exception,
+        "c_return": trace_dispatch_return,
         }
 
 
diff --git a/Lib/test/output/test_profile b/Lib/test/output/test_profile
index 917a18e..b46bb6a 100644
--- a/Lib/test/output/test_profile
+++ b/Lib/test/output/test_profile
@@ -1,9 +1,12 @@
 test_profile
-         53 function calls in 1.000 CPU seconds
+         74 function calls in 1.000 CPU seconds
 
    Ordered by: standard name
 
    ncalls  tottime  percall  cumtime  percall filename:lineno(function)
+       12    0.000    0.000    0.012    0.001 :0(hasattr)
+        8    0.000    0.000    0.000    0.000 :0(range)
+        1    0.000    0.000    0.000    0.000 :0(setprofile)
         1    0.000    0.000    1.000    1.000 <string>:1(?)
         0    0.000             0.000          profile:0(profiler)
         1    0.000    0.000    1.000    1.000 profile:0(testfunc())
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_profilehooks.py b/Lib/test/test_profilehooks.py
index ac8ebd8..53f882a 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_profilehooks.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_profilehooks.py
@@ -11,7 +11,10 @@
         self.events = []
 
     def callback(self, frame, event, arg):
-        self.add_event(event, frame)
+        if (event == "call"
+            or event == "return"
+            or event == "exception"):
+            self.add_event(event, frame)
 
     def add_event(self, event, frame=None):
         """Add an event to the log."""
@@ -56,10 +59,16 @@
         self.testcase.fail(
             "the profiler should never receive exception events")
 
+    def trace_pass(self, frame):
+        pass
+
     dispatch = {
         'call': trace_call,
         'exception': trace_exception,
         'return': trace_return,
+        'c_call': trace_pass,
+        'c_return': trace_pass,
+        'c_exception': trace_pass,
         }
 
 
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index afd8ea6..724ccab 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -12,6 +12,9 @@
 Core and builtins
 -----------------
 
+- Enabled the profiling of C extension functions (and builtins) - check
+  new documentation and modified profiler and bdb modules for more details
+
 - Set file.name to the object passed to open (instead of a new string)
 
 - Moved tracebackobject into traceback.h and renamed to PyTracebackObject
diff --git a/Python/ceval.c b/Python/ceval.c
index b48e042..e136cb0 100644
--- a/Python/ceval.c
+++ b/Python/ceval.c
@@ -536,9 +536,7 @@
 	return 0;
 }
 
-
 /* Status code for main loop (reason for stack unwind) */
-
 enum why_code {
 		WHY_NOT,	/* No error */
 		WHY_EXCEPTION,	/* Exception occurred */
@@ -3425,6 +3423,42 @@
 			     nargs);
 }
 
+#define BEGIN_C_TRACE \
+if (tstate->use_tracing) { \
+	if (tstate->c_profilefunc != NULL) { \
+		PyObject *func_name = \
+			PyString_FromString (((PyCFunctionObject *) \
+						func)->m_ml->ml_name); \
+		are_tracing = 1; \
+		if (call_trace(tstate->c_profilefunc, \
+			tstate->c_profileobj, \
+			tstate->frame, PyTrace_C_CALL, \
+			func_name)) \
+			{ return NULL; } \
+		Py_DECREF (func_name); \
+		} \
+	}
+
+#define END_C_TRACE \
+	if (tstate->use_tracing && are_tracing) { \
+		if (tstate->c_profilefunc != NULL) { \
+			if (x == NULL) { \
+				if (call_trace (tstate->c_profilefunc, \
+					tstate->c_profileobj, \
+					tstate->frame, PyTrace_C_EXCEPTION, \
+					NULL)) \
+					{ return NULL; } \
+			} else { \
+				if (call_trace(tstate->c_profilefunc, \
+					tstate->c_profileobj, \
+					tstate->frame, PyTrace_C_RETURN, \
+					NULL))	\
+					{ return NULL; } \
+			} \
+		} \
+	}
+
+
 static PyObject *
 call_function(PyObject ***pp_stack, int oparg)
 {
@@ -3435,6 +3469,10 @@
 	PyObject *func = *pfunc;
 	PyObject *x, *w;
 
+	int     are_tracing = 0;
+
+	PyThreadState *tstate = PyThreadState_GET();
+
 	/* Always dispatch PyCFunction first, because these are
 	   presumed to be the most frequent callable object.
 	*/
@@ -3444,11 +3482,16 @@
 		if (flags & (METH_NOARGS | METH_O)) {
 			PyCFunction meth = PyCFunction_GET_FUNCTION(func);
 			PyObject *self = PyCFunction_GET_SELF(func);
-			if (flags & METH_NOARGS && na == 0) 
+			if (flags & METH_NOARGS && na == 0) {
+ 				BEGIN_C_TRACE
 				x = (*meth)(self, NULL);
+				END_C_TRACE
+			}
 			else if (flags & METH_O && na == 1) {
 				PyObject *arg = EXT_POP(*pp_stack);
+				BEGIN_C_TRACE
 				x = (*meth)(self, arg);
+				END_C_TRACE
 				Py_DECREF(arg);
 			}
 			else {
@@ -3459,7 +3502,9 @@
 		else {
 			PyObject *callargs;
 			callargs = load_args(pp_stack, na);
+			BEGIN_C_TRACE
 			x = PyCFunction_Call(func, callargs, NULL);
+			END_C_TRACE
 			Py_XDECREF(callargs); 
 		} 
 	} else {
diff --git a/Python/sysmodule.c b/Python/sysmodule.c
index c98e9f1..4e7035a 100644
--- a/Python/sysmodule.c
+++ b/Python/sysmodule.c
@@ -272,15 +272,16 @@
  * Cached interned string objects used for calling the profile and
  * trace functions.  Initialized by trace_init().
  */
-static PyObject *whatstrings[4] = {NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL};
+static PyObject *whatstrings[7] = {NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL};
 
 static int
 trace_init(void)
 {
-	static char *whatnames[4] = {"call", "exception", "line", "return"};
+	static char *whatnames[7] = {"call", "exception", "line", "return",
+					"c_call", "c_exception", "c_return"};
 	PyObject *name;
 	int i;
-	for (i = 0; i < 4; ++i) {
+	for (i = 0; i < 7; ++i) {
 		if (whatstrings[i] == NULL) {
 			name = PyString_InternFromString(whatnames[i]);
 			if (name == NULL)