diff --git a/lib/ansible/connection.py b/lib/ansible/connection.py
index 11faac402bd..e33e7e0e312 100755
--- a/lib/ansible/connection.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/connection.py
@@ -142,6 +142,15 @@ class ParamikoConnection(object):
             raise errors.AnsibleError("failed to transfer file to %s" % out_path)
         sftp.close()
 
+    def fetch_file(self, in_path, out_path):
+        sftp = self.ssh.open_sftp()
+        try:
+            sftp.get(in_path, out_path)
+        except IOError:
+            traceback.print_exc()
+            raise errors.AnsibleError("failed to transfer file from %s" % in_path)
+        sftp.close()
+
     def close(self):
         ''' terminate the connection '''
 
@@ -184,6 +193,10 @@ class LocalConnection(object):
             traceback.print_exc()
             raise errors.AnsibleError("failed to transfer file to %s" % out_path)
 
+    def fetch_file(self, in_path, out_path):
+        ''' fetch a file from local to local -- for copatibility '''
+        self.put_file(in_path, out_path)
+
     def close(self):
         ''' terminate the connection; nothing to do here '''
 
diff --git a/lib/ansible/runner.py b/lib/ansible/runner.py
index b2cf3518b99..e112081cf2f 100755
--- a/lib/ansible/runner.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/runner.py
@@ -460,6 +460,48 @@ class Runner(object):
 
     # *****************************************************
 
+    def _execute_fetch(self, conn, host, tmp):
+        ''' handler for fetch operations '''
+
+        #load up options
+        options = utils.parse_kv(self.module_args)
+        source = options['src']
+        dest   = options['dest']
+
+        changed = False
+        failed = None
+        ok = True
+        error = None
+
+        #get old md5
+        local_md5 = None
+        if os.path.exists(dest):
+            local_md5 = os.popen("md5sum %s" % dest).read().split()[0]
+
+        #get new md5
+        remote_md5 = self._exec_command(conn, "md5sum %s" % source, tmp, True)[0].split()[0]
+
+        if remote_md5 != local_md5:
+            #fetch the file and check for changes
+            conn.fetch_file(source, dest)
+            new_md5 = os.popen("md5sum %s" % dest).read().split()[0]
+            changed = (new_md5 != local_md5)
+            if new_md5 != remote_md5:
+                error = "new md5 does not match remote md5"
+        else:
+            new_md5 = local_md5
+        
+        if error:
+            ok = False
+            failed = True
+            data = {'msg': error, 'failed': True, 'md5sum': new_md5, 'changed': changed}
+        else:
+            data = {'changed': changed, 'md5sum': new_md5}
+        
+        return (host, ok, data, failed)
+        
+    # *****************************************************
+
     def _chain_file_module(self, conn, tmp, data, err, options, executed):
         ''' handles changing file attribs after copy/template operations '''
 
@@ -549,6 +591,8 @@ class Runner(object):
 
         if self.module_name == 'copy':
             result = self._execute_copy(conn, host, tmp)
+        elif self.module_name == 'fetch':
+            result = self._execute_fetch(conn, host, tmp)
         elif self.module_name == 'template':
             result = self._execute_template(conn, host, tmp)
         else:
diff --git a/library/fetch b/library/fetch
new file mode 100755
index 00000000000..f26337a490a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/library/fetch
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+#!/usr/bin/python
+
+# (c) 2012, Michael DeHaan <michael.dehaan@gmail.com>
+#
+# This file is part of Ansible
+#
+# Ansible is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+#
+# Ansible is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+# along with Ansible.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+#
+
+### THIS FILE IS FOR REFERENCE OR FUTURE USE ###
+
+# See lib/ansible/runner.py for implementation of the fetch functionality #
+