diff --git a/include/boost/python/handle.hpp b/include/boost/python/handle.hpp
index 7fea1134..98534944 100755
--- a/include/boost/python/handle.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/python/handle.hpp
@@ -109,6 +109,7 @@ class handle
     T& operator* () const;
     T* get() const;
     T* release();
+    void reset();
     
     operator bool_type() const // never throws
     {
@@ -227,6 +228,13 @@ inline T* handle<T>::release()
     return result;
 }
 
+template <class T>
+inline void handle<T>::reset()
+{
+    python::xdecref(m_p);
+    m_p = 0;
+}
+
 // Because get_managed_object must return a non-null PyObject*, we
 // return Py_None if the handle is null.
 template <class T>