diff --git a/doc/source/devref/hooks.rst b/doc/source/devref/hooks.rst
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..a53e373526d7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/source/devref/hooks.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+Hooks
+=====
+
+Hooks provide a mechanism to extend Nova with custom code through a plugin
+mechanism.
+
+Named hooks are added to nova code via a decorator that will lazily load
+plugin code matching the name.  The loading works via setuptools
+`entry points`_.
+
+.. _`entry points`: http://packages.python.org/distribute/pkg_resources.html#entry-points
+
+What are hooks good for?
+------------------------
+
+Hooks are good for anchoring your custom code to Nova internal APIs.
+
+What are hooks NOT good for?
+----------------------------
+
+Hooks should not be used when API stability is a key factor.  Internal APIs may
+change.  Consider using a notification driver if this is important to you.
+
+Declaring hooks in the Nova codebase
+------------------------------------
+
+The following example declares a *resize_hook* around the *resize_instance* method::
+
+    from nova import hooks
+
+    @hooks.add_hook("resize_hook")
+    def resize_instance(self, context, instance, a=1, b=2):
+        ...
+
+Hook objects can now be attached via entry points to the *resize_hook*.
+
+Adding hook object code
+-----------------------
+
+1. Setup a Python package with a setup.py file.
+2. Add the following to the setup.py setup call::
+
+    entry_points = [
+        'nova.hooks': [
+            'resize_hook': your_package.hooks.YourHookClass,
+        ]
+    ]
+
+3. *YourHookClass* should be an object with *pre* and/or *post* methods::
+
+    class YourHookClass(object):
+
+        def pre(self, *args, **kwargs):
+            ....
+
+        def post(self, rv, *args, **kwargs):
+            ....
diff --git a/doc/source/devref/index.rst b/doc/source/devref/index.rst
index 239848c62c66..0b7883f7b9fa 100644
--- a/doc/source/devref/index.rst
+++ b/doc/source/devref/index.rst
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ Background Concepts for Nova
    filter_scheduler
    multinic
    rpc
+   hooks
 
 Other Resources
 ---------------
diff --git a/nova/compute/api.py b/nova/compute/api.py
index c937b7cf5be6..b3b5f1f42539 100644
--- a/nova/compute/api.py
+++ b/nova/compute/api.py
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ from nova.consoleauth import rpcapi as consoleauth_rpcapi
 from nova import crypto
 from nova.db import base
 from nova import exception
+from nova import hooks
 from nova.image import glance
 from nova import network
 from nova import notifications
@@ -788,6 +789,7 @@ class API(base.Base):
         if block_device_mapping:
             check_policy(context, 'create:attach_volume', target)
 
+    @hooks.add_hook("create_instance")
     def create(self, context, instance_type,
                image_href, kernel_id=None, ramdisk_id=None,
                min_count=None, max_count=None,
diff --git a/nova/compute/manager.py b/nova/compute/manager.py
index 99637fd6580f..1013ddaba423 100644
--- a/nova/compute/manager.py
+++ b/nova/compute/manager.py
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ from nova.compute import vm_states
 from nova import conductor
 import nova.context
 from nova import exception
+from nova import hooks
 from nova.image import glance
 from nova import manager
 from nova import network
@@ -1007,6 +1008,7 @@ class ComputeManager(manager.SchedulerDependentManager):
                 self.volume_api.delete(context, volume)
             # NOTE(vish): bdms will be deleted on instance destroy
 
+    @hooks.add_hook("delete_instance")
     def _delete_instance(self, context, instance, bdms):
         """Delete an instance on this host."""
         instance_uuid = instance['uuid']
diff --git a/nova/hooks.py b/nova/hooks.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..8a9c77e73630
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nova/hooks.py
@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+# vim: tabstop=4 shiftwidth=4 softtabstop=4
+
+# Copyright (c) 2012 OpenStack, LLC.
+# All Rights Reserved.
+#
+#    Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may
+#    not use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain
+#    a copy of the License at
+#
+#         http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+#    Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+#    distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT
+#    WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the
+#    License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
+#    under the License.
+
+"""Decorator and config option definitions for adding custom code (hooks)
+around callables.
+
+Any method may have the 'add_hook' decorator applied, which yields the
+ability to invoke Hook objects before or after the method. (i.e. pre and
+post)
+
+Hook objects are loaded by HookLoaders.  Each named hook may invoke multiple
+Hooks.
+
+Example Hook object:
+
+class MyHook(object):
+    def pre(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        # do stuff before wrapped callable runs
+
+    def post(self, rv, *args, **kwargs):
+        # do stuff after wrapped callable runs
+
+
+"""
+
+import functools
+
+import stevedore
+
+from nova.openstack.common import log as logging
+
+LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+NS = 'nova.hooks'
+
+_HOOKS = {}  # hook name => hook manager
+
+
+class HookManager(stevedore.hook.HookManager):
+    def __init__(self, name):
+        # invoke_on_load creates an instance of the Hook class
+        super(HookManager, self).__init__(NS, name, invoke_on_load=True)
+
+    def run_pre(self, name, args, kwargs):
+        for e in self.extensions:
+            obj = e.obj
+            pre = getattr(obj, 'pre', None)
+            if pre:
+                LOG.debug(_("Running %(name)s pre-hook: %(obj)s") % locals())
+                pre(*args, **kwargs)
+
+    def run_post(self, name, rv, args, kwargs):
+        for e in reversed(self.extensions):
+            obj = e.obj
+            post = getattr(obj, 'post', None)
+            if post:
+                LOG.debug(_("Running %(name)s post-hook: %(obj)s") % locals())
+                post(rv, *args, **kwargs)
+
+
+def add_hook(name):
+    """Execute optional pre and post methods around the decorated
+    function.  This is useful for customization around callables.
+    """
+
+    def outer(f):
+        @functools.wraps(f)
+        def inner(*args, **kwargs):
+            manager = _HOOKS.setdefault(name, HookManager(name))
+
+            manager.run_pre(name, args, kwargs)
+            rv = f(*args, **kwargs)
+            manager.run_post(name, rv, args, kwargs)
+
+            return rv
+
+        return inner
+    return outer
+
+
+def reset():
+    """Clear loaded hooks."""
+    _HOOKS.clear()
diff --git a/nova/tests/test_hooks.py b/nova/tests/test_hooks.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..39be582c97cd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nova/tests/test_hooks.py
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+# vim: tabstop=4 shiftwidth=4 softtabstop=4
+
+# Copyright (c) 2012 OpenStack, LLC.
+# All Rights Reserved.
+#
+#    Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may
+#    not use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain
+#    a copy of the License at
+#
+#         http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+#    Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+#    distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT
+#    WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the
+#    License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
+#    under the License.
+
+"""Tests for hook customization"""
+
+import stevedore
+
+from nova import hooks
+from nova import test
+
+
+class SampleHookA(object):
+    name = "a"
+
+    def _add_called(self, op, kwargs):
+        called = kwargs.get('called', None)
+        if called is not None:
+            called.append(op + self.name)
+
+    def pre(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        self._add_called("pre", kwargs)
+
+
+class SampleHookB(SampleHookA):
+    name = "b"
+
+    def post(self, rv, *args, **kwargs):
+        self._add_called("post", kwargs)
+
+
+class MockEntryPoint(object):
+
+    def __init__(self, cls):
+        self.cls = cls
+
+    def load(self):
+        return self.cls
+
+
+class HookTestCase(test.TestCase):
+
+    def _mock_load_plugins(self, iload, iargs, ikwargs):
+        return [
+            stevedore.extension.Extension('test_hook',
+                MockEntryPoint(SampleHookA), SampleHookA, SampleHookA()),
+            stevedore.extension.Extension('test_hook',
+                MockEntryPoint(SampleHookB), SampleHookB, SampleHookB()),
+        ]
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        super(HookTestCase, self).setUp()
+
+        hooks.reset()
+
+        self.stubs.Set(stevedore.extension.ExtensionManager, '_load_plugins',
+                       self._mock_load_plugins)
+
+    @hooks.add_hook('test_hook')
+    def _hooked(self, a, b=1, c=2, called=None):
+        return 42
+
+    def test_basic(self):
+        self.assertEqual(42, self._hooked(1))
+
+        mgr = hooks._HOOKS['test_hook']
+        self.assertEqual(2, len(mgr.extensions))
+        self.assertEqual(SampleHookA, mgr.extensions[0].plugin)
+        self.assertEqual(SampleHookB, mgr.extensions[1].plugin)
+
+    def test_order_of_execution(self):
+        called_order = []
+        self._hooked(42, called=called_order)
+        self.assertEqual(['prea', 'preb', 'postb'], called_order)
diff --git a/tools/pip-requires b/tools/pip-requires
index e590f365e666..1fbfa6dafaa9 100644
--- a/tools/pip-requires
+++ b/tools/pip-requires
@@ -23,3 +23,4 @@ python-cinderclient
 python-quantumclient>=2.1
 python-glanceclient>=0.5.0,<2
 python-keystoneclient>=0.2.0
+stevedore>=0.7