diff --git a/gnucash/python/init.py b/gnucash/python/init.py
index 5cf1f99c96..a619eec5e3 100644
--- a/gnucash/python/init.py
+++ b/gnucash/python/init.py
@@ -43,8 +43,9 @@ class Console (cons.Console):
     """ GTK python console """
 
     def __init__(self, argv=[], shelltype='python', banner=[],
-                 filename=None, size=100):
-        cons.Console.__init__(self, argv, shelltype, banner, filename, size)
+                 filename=None, size=100, user_local_ns=None, user_global_ns=None):
+        cons.Console.__init__(self, argv, shelltype, banner, filename, size,
+                        user_local_ns=user_local_ns, user_global_ns=user_global_ns)
         self.buffer.create_tag('center',
                                justification=Gtk.Justification.CENTER,
                                font='Mono 4')
@@ -101,12 +102,15 @@ if False:
     title = "gnucash "+shelltype+" shell"
     banner_style = 'title'
     banner = "Welcome to "+title+"!\n"
-    console = Console(argv = [], shelltype = shelltype, banner = [[banner, banner_style]], size = 100)
 
     window = Gtk.Window(type = Gtk.WindowType.TOPLEVEL)
     window.set_position(Gtk.WindowPosition.CENTER)
     window.set_default_size(800,600)
     window.set_border_width(0)
+
+    console = Console(argv = [], shelltype = shelltype, banner = [[banner, banner_style]],
+                            size = 100, user_local_ns=locals(), user_global_ns=globals())
+
     window.connect('destroy-event', console.quit_event)
     window.connect('delete-event', console.quit_event)
     window.add (console)
diff --git a/gnucash/python/pycons/console.py b/gnucash/python/pycons/console.py
index d12f753927..b3a27035fe 100644
--- a/gnucash/python/pycons/console.py
+++ b/gnucash/python/pycons/console.py
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ class Console (Gtk.ScrolledWindow):
     """ GTK python console """
 
     def __init__(self, argv=[], shelltype='python', banner=[],
-                 filename=None, size=100):
+                 filename=None, size=100, user_local_ns=None, user_global_ns=None):
 
         """ Console interface building + initialization"""
 
@@ -184,12 +184,18 @@ class Console (Gtk.ScrolledWindow):
         self.history_init(filename, size)
         self.cout = io.StringIO()
         self.cout.truncate(0)
+
+        if not user_local_ns:
+            user_local_ns = locals()
+        if not user_global_ns:
+            user_global_ns = globals()
+
         if shelltype=='ipython':
-            self.shell = ishell.Shell(argv,locals(),globals(),
+            self.shell = ishell.Shell(argv,user_local_ns, user_global_ns,
                                 cout=self.cout, cerr=self.cout,
                                 input_func=self.raw_input)
         else:
-            self.shell = shell.Shell(locals(),globals())
+            self.shell = shell.Shell(user_local_ns,user_global_ns)
         self.interrupt = False
         self.input_mode = False
         self.input = None