diff --git a/include/git2/index.h b/include/git2/index.h
index 2a0b001ff..bca9791c5 100644
--- a/include/git2/index.h
+++ b/include/git2/index.h
@@ -125,6 +125,19 @@ enum {
  */
 GIT_EXTERN(int) git_index_open(git_index **index, const char *index_path);
 
+/**
+ * Create an in-memory index object.
+ *
+ * This index object cannot be read/written to the filesystem,
+ * but may be used to perform in-memory index operations.
+ *
+ * The index must be freed once it's no longer in use.
+ *
+ * @param index the pointer for the new index
+ * @return 0 or an error code
+ */
+GIT_EXTERN(int) git_index_new(git_index **index);
+
 /**
  * Free an existing index object.
  *
diff --git a/src/index.c b/src/index.c
index ffa63f6a7..cb83015a6 100644
--- a/src/index.c
+++ b/src/index.c
@@ -287,6 +287,11 @@ int git_index_open(git_index **index_out, const char *index_path)
 	return (index_path != NULL) ? git_index_read(index) : 0;
 }
 
+int git_index_new(git_index **out)
+{
+	return git_index_open(out, NULL);
+}
+
 static void index_free(git_index *index)
 {
 	git_index_entry *e;