diff --git a/Include/sysmodule.h b/Include/sysmodule.h
index 46d0070d66e..1f1589af580 100644
--- a/Include/sysmodule.h
+++ b/Include/sysmodule.h
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ FILE *sysgetfile PROTO((char *, FILE *));
 void initsys PROTO((void));
 
 extern DL_IMPORT object *sys_trace, *sys_profile;
+extern DL_IMPORT int sys_checkinterval;
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
diff --git a/Python/sysmodule.c b/Python/sysmodule.c
index ea673639158..5d7955bf3bf 100644
--- a/Python/sysmodule.c
+++ b/Python/sysmodule.c
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ Data members:
 #include "osdefs.h"
 
 object *sys_trace, *sys_profile;
+int sys_checkinterval;
 
 static object *sysdict;
 
@@ -124,6 +125,17 @@ sys_setprofile(self, args)
 	return None;
 }
 
+static object *
+sys_setcheckinterval(self, args)
+	object *self;
+	object *args;
+{
+	if (!newgetargs(args, "i", &sys_checkinterval))
+		return NULL;
+	INCREF(None);
+	return None;
+}
+
 #ifdef USE_MALLOPT
 /* Link with -lmalloc (or -lmpc) on an SGI */
 #include <malloc.h>
@@ -149,6 +161,7 @@ static struct methodlist sys_methods[] = {
 #endif
 	{"setprofile",	sys_setprofile},
 	{"settrace",	sys_settrace},
+	{"setcheckinterval",	sys_setcheckinterval},
 	{NULL,		NULL}		/* sentinel */
 };