diff --git a/Lib/bdb.py b/Lib/bdb.py
index 9b507671760..7642ed0cd97 100644
--- a/Lib/bdb.py
+++ b/Lib/bdb.py
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ def get_stack(self, f, t):
 	
 	# 
 	
-	def format_stack_entry(self, frame_lineno):
+	def format_stack_entry(self, frame_lineno, lprefix=': '):
 		import linecache, repr, string
 		frame, lineno = frame_lineno
 		filename = frame.f_code.co_filename
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ def format_stack_entry(self, frame_lineno):
 			s = s + '->'
 			s = s + repr.repr(rv)
 		line = linecache.getline(filename, lineno)
-		if line: s = s + ': ' + string.strip(line)
+		if line: s = s + lprefix + string.strip(line)
 		return s
 	
 	# The following two methods can be called by clients to use
diff --git a/Lib/pdb.py b/Lib/pdb.py
index a77dd29f898..30b1477536d 100755
--- a/Lib/pdb.py
+++ b/Lib/pdb.py
@@ -10,6 +10,13 @@
 import repr
 
 
+# Interaction prompt line will separate file and call info from code
+# text using value of line_prefix string.  A newline and arrow may
+# be to your liking.  You can set it once pdb is imported using the
+# command "pdb.line_prefix = '\n% '".
+# line_prefix = ': '	# Use this to get the old situation back
+line_prefix = '\n-> '	# Probably a better default
+
 class Pdb(bdb.Bdb, cmd.Cmd):
 	
 	def __init__(self):
@@ -55,7 +62,8 @@ def user_exception(self, frame, (exc_type, exc_value, exc_traceback)):
 	
 	def interaction(self, frame, traceback):
 		self.setup(frame, traceback)
-		self.print_stack_entry(self.stack[self.curindex])
+		self.print_stack_entry(self.stack[self.curindex],
+				       line_prefix)
 		self.cmdloop()
 		self.forget()
 
@@ -280,13 +288,13 @@ def print_stack_trace(self):
 		except KeyboardInterrupt:
 			pass
 	
-	def print_stack_entry(self, frame_lineno):
+	def print_stack_entry(self, frame_lineno, prompt_prefix=''):
 		frame, lineno = frame_lineno
 		if frame is self.curframe:
 			print '>',
 		else:
 			print ' ',
-		print self.format_stack_entry(frame_lineno)
+		print self.format_stack_entry(frame_lineno, prompt_prefix)
 
 
 	# Help methods (derived from pdb.doc)