diff --git a/Lib/imaplib.py b/Lib/imaplib.py
index 2a0eeb6ff46..4706eea02d4 100644
--- a/Lib/imaplib.py
+++ b/Lib/imaplib.py
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@
         'SUBSCRIBE':    ('AUTH', 'SELECTED'),
         'UID':          ('SELECTED',),
         'UNSUBSCRIBE':  ('AUTH', 'SELECTED'),
+        'NAMESPACE':    ('AUTH', 'SELECTED'),
         }
 
 #       Patterns to match server responses
@@ -571,6 +572,12 @@ def xatom(self, name, *args):
             raise self.error('unknown extension command: %s' % name)
         return apply(self._simple_command, (name,) + args)
 
+    def namespace(self):
+	""" Returns IMAP namespaces ala rfc2342
+	"""
+	name = 'NAMESPACE'
+	typ, dat = self._simple_command(name)
+	return self._untagged_response(typ, dat, name)
 
 
     #       Private methods