diff --git a/Lib/timeit.py b/Lib/timeit.py
index 9870954dfe6..4ad4a39e550 100644
--- a/Lib/timeit.py
+++ b/Lib/timeit.py
@@ -236,6 +236,11 @@ def main(args=None):
             print __doc__,
             return 0
     setup = "\n".join(setup) or "pass"
+    # Include the current directory, so that local imports work (sys.path
+    # contains the directory of this script, rather than the current
+    # directory)
+    import os
+    sys.path.insert(0, os.curdir)
     t = Timer(stmt, setup, timer)
     if number == 0:
         # determine number so that 0.2 <= total time < 2.0
diff --git a/Misc/ACKS b/Misc/ACKS
index a2afed18b06..3f1ac93dfe4 100644
--- a/Misc/ACKS
+++ b/Misc/ACKS
@@ -370,6 +370,7 @@ Trent Mick
 Roman Milner
 Dom Mitchell
 Doug Moen
+Paul Moore
 The Dragon De Monsyne
 Skip Montanaro
 James A Morrison
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index 3a819b881f1..b3517114d77 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -58,6 +58,8 @@ Library
 - Fixed socket speed loss caused by use of the _socketobject wrapper class
   in socket.py.
 
+- timeit.py now checks the current directory for imports.
+
 Tools/Demos
 -----------