diff --git a/pystache/__init__.py b/pystache/__init__.py
index f5caf36..5b22cca 100644
--- a/pystache/__init__.py
+++ b/pystache/__init__.py
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
 from pystache.template import Template
 
-def render(template, context={}):
+def render(template, context={}, **kwargs):
+    context = context.copy()
+    for key in kwargs:
+        context[key] = kwargs[key]
     return Template(template, context).render()
diff --git a/tests/test_pystache.py b/tests/test_pystache.py
index fbcf3ca..097021a 100644
--- a/tests/test_pystache.py
+++ b/tests/test_pystache.py
@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@ class TestPystache(unittest.TestCase):
         ret = pystache.render("Hi {{thing}}!", { 'thing': 'world' })
         self.assertEquals(ret, "Hi world!")
 
+    def test_kwargs(self):
+        ret = pystache.render("Hi {{thing}}!", thing='world')
+        self.assertEquals(ret, "Hi world!")
+
     def test_less_basic(self):
         template = "It's a nice day for {{beverage}}, right {{person}}?"
         ret = pystache.render(template, { 'beverage': 'soda', 'person': 'Bob' })