diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst
index 1df658e1..1de439cf 100644
--- a/README.rst
+++ b/README.rst
@@ -52,7 +52,8 @@ After installing Gunicorn you will have access to the command line script
 Commonly Used Arguments
 +++++++++++++++++++++++
 
-  * ``-c CONFIG, --config=CONFIG`` - Specify the path to a `config file`_
+  * ``-c CONFIG, --config=CONFIG`` - Specify the path to a `config file`_ or 
+    python module.
   * ``-b BIND, --bind=BIND`` - Specify a server socket to bind. Server sockets
     can be any of ``$(HOST)``, ``$(HOST):$(PORT)``, or ``unix:$(PATH)``.
     An IP is a valid ``$(HOST)``.
diff --git a/docs/source/settings.rst b/docs/source/settings.rst
index 9eee8b2e..6996db0c 100644
--- a/docs/source/settings.rst
+++ b/docs/source/settings.rst
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ config
 * ``-c FILE, --config FILE``
 * ``None``
 
-The path to a Gunicorn config file.
+The path to a Gunicorn config file, or python module.
 
 Only has an effect when specified on the command line or as part of an
 application specific configuration.
diff --git a/gunicorn/app/base.py b/gunicorn/app/base.py
index b23b6b35..bc6ea188 100644
--- a/gunicorn/app/base.py
+++ b/gunicorn/app/base.py
@@ -75,11 +75,9 @@ class BaseApplication(object):
             sys.exit(1)
 
 class Application(BaseApplication):
-    def load_config_from_file(self, filename):
-        """
-        Loads the configuration file: the file is a python file, otherwise raise an RuntimeError
-        Exception or stop the process if the configuration file contains a syntax error.
-        """
+
+    def get_config_from_filename(self, filename):
+
         if not os.path.exists(filename):
             raise RuntimeError("%r doesn't exist" % filename)
 
@@ -97,6 +95,22 @@ class Application(BaseApplication):
             traceback.print_exc()
             sys.exit(1)
 
+        return cfg
+
+    def get_config_from_module_name(self, module_name):
+        return util.import_module(module_name).__dict__
+
+    def load_config_from_module_name_or_filename(self, location):
+        """
+        Loads the configuration file: the file is a python file, otherwise raise an RuntimeError
+        Exception or stop the process if the configuration file contains a syntax error.
+        """
+
+        try:
+            cfg = self.get_config_from_module_name(module_name=location)
+        except ImportError:
+            cfg = self.get_config_from_filename(filename=location)
+
         for k, v in cfg.items():
             # Ignore unknown names
             if k not in self.cfg.settings:
@@ -109,6 +123,11 @@ class Application(BaseApplication):
 
         return cfg
 
+    def load_config_from_file(self, filename):
+        return self.load_config_from_module_name_or_filename(
+            location=filename
+        )
+
     def load_config(self):
         # parse console args
         parser = self.cfg.parser()
diff --git a/gunicorn/config.py b/gunicorn/config.py
index d940fa19..ca5c3d4d 100644
--- a/gunicorn/config.py
+++ b/gunicorn/config.py
@@ -454,7 +454,7 @@ class ConfigFile(Setting):
     validator = validate_string
     default = None
     desc = """\
-        The path to a Gunicorn config file.
+        The path to a Gunicorn config file, or python module.
 
         Only has an effect when specified on the command line or as part of an
         application specific configuration.
diff --git a/tests/config/__init__.py b/tests/config/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e69de29b
diff --git a/tests/test_003-config.py b/tests/test_003-config.py
index c35feb79..bbf03521 100644
--- a/tests/test_003-config.py
+++ b/tests/test_003-config.py
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ from gunicorn.app.base import Application
 from gunicorn.workers.sync import SyncWorker
 
 dirname = os.path.dirname(__file__)
+def cfg_module():
+    return 'config.test_cfg'
 def cfg_file():
     return os.path.join(dirname, "config", "test_cfg.py")
 def paster_ini():
@@ -185,12 +187,25 @@ def test_load_config():
     t.eq(app.cfg.workers, 3)
     t.eq(app.cfg.proc_name, "fooey")
 
+def test_load_config_module():
+    with AltArgs(["prog_name", "-c", cfg_module()]):
+        app = NoConfigApp()
+    t.eq(app.cfg.bind, ["unix:/tmp/bar/baz"])
+    t.eq(app.cfg.workers, 3)
+    t.eq(app.cfg.proc_name, "fooey")
+
 def test_cli_overrides_config():
     with AltArgs(["prog_name", "-c", cfg_file(), "-b", "blarney"]):
         app = NoConfigApp()
         t.eq(app.cfg.bind, ["blarney"])
         t.eq(app.cfg.proc_name, "fooey")
 
+def test_cli_overrides_config_module():
+    with AltArgs(["prog_name", "-c", cfg_module(), "-b", "blarney"]):
+        app = NoConfigApp()
+        t.eq(app.cfg.bind, ["blarney"])
+        t.eq(app.cfg.proc_name, "fooey")
+
 def test_default_config_file():
     default_config = os.path.join(os.path.abspath(os.getcwd()), 
                                                   'gunicorn.conf.py')