diff --git a/lib/jasmine.js b/lib/jasmine.js
index 7ba87079..39d74abf 100644
--- a/lib/jasmine.js
+++ b/lib/jasmine.js
@@ -1623,6 +1623,7 @@ jasmine.Spec = function(env, suite, description) {
   this.results = new jasmine.NestedResults();
   this.results.description = description;
   this.runs = this.addToQueue;
+  this.matchersClass = null;
 };
 
 jasmine.Spec.prototype.getFullName = function() {
@@ -1660,7 +1661,7 @@ jasmine.Spec.prototype.expects_that = function(actual) {
  * @private
  */
 jasmine.Spec.prototype.expect = function(actual) {
-  return new jasmine.Matchers(this.env, actual, this.results);
+  return new (this.getMatchersClass_())(this.env, actual, this.results);
 };
 
 /**
@@ -1682,6 +1683,22 @@ jasmine.Spec.prototype.waitsFor = function(timeout, latchFunction, message) {
   return this;
 };
 
+jasmine.Spec.prototype.getMatchersClass_ = function(matcherPrototype) {
+  return this.matchersClass || jasmine.Matchers;
+};
+
+jasmine.Spec.prototype.addMatchers = function(matchersPrototype) {
+  var parent = this.getMatchersClass_();
+  var newMatchersClass = function() {
+    parent.apply(this, arguments);
+  };
+  jasmine.util.inherit(newMatchersClass, parent);
+  for (var method in matchersPrototype) {
+    newMatchersClass.prototype[method] = matchersPrototype[method];
+  }
+  this.matchersClass = newMatchersClass;
+};
+
 jasmine.Spec.prototype.resetTimeout = function() {
   this.currentTimeout = 0;
   this.currentLatchFunction = undefined;
diff --git a/spec/suites/SpecRunningTest.js b/spec/suites/SpecRunningTest.js
index d74f5f34..ca84e1d4 100644
--- a/spec/suites/SpecRunningTest.js
+++ b/spec/suites/SpecRunningTest.js
@@ -728,4 +728,36 @@ describe("jasmine spec running", function () {
 
     expect(exceptionMessage).toEqual('explodes function should not have been called');
   });
+
+  it("should be easy to add more matchers local to a spec, suite, etc.", function() {
+    var spec1, spec2, spec1Matcher, spec2Matcher;
+
+    var suite = env.describe('some suite', function() {
+      env.beforeEach(function() {
+        this.addMatchers({ matcherForSuite: function(expected) {
+          return "matcherForSuite: actual: " + this.actual + "; expected: " + expected;
+        } });
+      });
+
+      spec1 = env.it('spec with an expectation').runs(function () {
+        this.addMatchers( { matcherForSpec: function(expected) {
+          return "matcherForSpec: actual: " + this.actual + "; expected: " + expected;
+        } });
+        spec1Matcher = this.expect("xxx");
+      });
+
+      spec2 = env.it('spec with failing expectation').runs(function () {
+        spec2Matcher = this.expect("yyy");
+      });
+    });
+
+    suite.execute();
+
+    expect(spec1Matcher.matcherForSuite("expected")).toEqual("matcherForSuite: actual: xxx; expected: expected");
+    expect(spec1Matcher.matcherForSpec("expected")).toEqual("matcherForSpec: actual: xxx; expected: expected");
+
+    expect(spec2Matcher.matcherForSuite("expected")).toEqual("matcherForSuite: actual: yyy; expected: expected");
+    expect(spec2Matcher.matcherForSpec).toBe(undefined);
+  });
+
 });
diff --git a/src/Spec.js b/src/Spec.js
index 70c84698..d5666609 100644
--- a/src/Spec.js
+++ b/src/Spec.js
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ jasmine.Spec = function(env, suite, description) {
   this.results = new jasmine.NestedResults();
   this.results.description = description;
   this.runs = this.addToQueue;
+  this.matchersClass = null;
 };
 
 jasmine.Spec.prototype.getFullName = function() {
@@ -58,7 +59,7 @@ jasmine.Spec.prototype.expects_that = function(actual) {
  * @private
  */
 jasmine.Spec.prototype.expect = function(actual) {
-  return new jasmine.Matchers(this.env, actual, this.results);
+  return new (this.getMatchersClass_())(this.env, actual, this.results);
 };
 
 /**
@@ -80,6 +81,22 @@ jasmine.Spec.prototype.waitsFor = function(timeout, latchFunction, message) {
   return this;
 };
 
+jasmine.Spec.prototype.getMatchersClass_ = function(matcherPrototype) {
+  return this.matchersClass || jasmine.Matchers;
+};
+
+jasmine.Spec.prototype.addMatchers = function(matchersPrototype) {
+  var parent = this.getMatchersClass_();
+  var newMatchersClass = function() {
+    parent.apply(this, arguments);
+  };
+  jasmine.util.inherit(newMatchersClass, parent);
+  for (var method in matchersPrototype) {
+    newMatchersClass.prototype[method] = matchersPrototype[method];
+  }
+  this.matchersClass = newMatchersClass;
+};
+
 jasmine.Spec.prototype.resetTimeout = function() {
   this.currentTimeout = 0;
   this.currentLatchFunction = undefined;