diff --git a/NAMESPACE b/NAMESPACE
index 512e13a52..01e133f27 100644
--- a/NAMESPACE
+++ b/NAMESPACE
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ S3method(summary,python.builtin.object)
 S3method(with,python.builtin.object)
 export("%as%")
 export(array_reshape)
+export(cache_eng_python)
 export(conda_binary)
 export(conda_create)
 export(conda_install)
diff --git a/R/knitr-engine.R b/R/knitr-engine.R
index a3e4b22e9..f4db73d31 100644
--- a/R/knitr-engine.R
+++ b/R/knitr-engine.R
@@ -175,7 +175,9 @@ eng_python <- function(options) {
   }
   
   eng_python_synchronize_after()
-  
+  if(options$cache > 0) {
+    save_python_session(options$hash)
+  }
   wrap <- getOption("reticulate.engine.wrap", eng_python_wrap)
   wrap(outputs, options)
   
@@ -186,8 +188,18 @@ eng_python_initialize <- function(options, context, envir) {
   if (is.character(options$engine.path))
     use_python(options$engine.path[[1]])
   
-  ensure_python_initialized()
-  
+  if (options$cache > 0) {
+    load_module <- tryCatch(
+      import("dill"),
+      error = function(c) {
+        py_error <- py_last_error()
+        if(py_error$type == "ImportError" && py_error$value == "No module named dill") {
+          warning("The Python module dill was not found. This module is needed for full cache functionality.")
+          "No dill"
+        }})
+    if (load_module != "No dill") 
+      py_run_string("import dill")
+  } 
   eng_python_initialize_matplotlib(options, context, envir)
 }
 
@@ -278,3 +290,52 @@ eng_python_wrap <- function(outputs, options) {
   wrap <- yoink("knitr", "wrap")
   wrap(outputs, options)
 }
+
+save_python_session <- function(cache_path) {
+  dill <- tryCatch(
+    import("dill"),
+    error = function(c) {
+      py_error <- py_last_error()
+      if(py_error$type == "ImportError" && py_error$value == "No module named dill") {
+        "No dill"
+      }})
+  if (dill == "No dill") return()
+
+  py_run_string("globals().pop('r')")
+  py_run_string("globals().pop('R')")
+  dill$dump_session(filename = paste0(cache_path, ".pkl"), byref = TRUE)
+}
+
+#' A reticulate cache engine for Knitr
+#' 
+#' This provides a `reticulate` cache engine for `knitr`. The cache engine
+#' allows `knitr` to save and load Python sessions between cached chunks. The
+#' cache engine depends on the `dill` Python module. Therefore, you must have
+#' `dill` installed in your Python environment.
+#' 
+#' The engine can be activated by setting (for example)
+#' 
+#' ```
+#' knitr::cache_engines$set(python = reticulate::cache_eng_python)
+#' ```
+#' 
+#' Typically, this will be set within a document's setup chunk, or by the
+#' environment requesting that Python chunks be processed by this engine.
+#' 
+#' @param cache_path
+#'   The path to save the chunk cache, as provided by `knitr` during chunk execution.
+#'   
+#' @export
+cache_eng_python <- function(cache_path) {
+  dill <- tryCatch(
+    import("dill"),
+    error = function(c) {
+      py_error <- py_last_error()
+      if(py_error$type == "ImportError" && py_error$value == "No module named dill") {
+        "No dill"
+      }})
+  if (dill == "No dill") return()
+  dill$load_session(filename = paste0(cache_path, ".pkl"))
+}
+
+
diff --git a/man/cache_eng_python.Rd b/man/cache_eng_python.Rd
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d8fd64ef0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/man/cache_eng_python.Rd
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+% Generated by roxygen2: do not edit by hand
+% Please edit documentation in R/knitr-engine.R
+\name{cache_eng_python}
+\alias{cache_eng_python}
+\title{A reticulate cache engine for Knitr}
+\usage{
+cache_eng_python(cache_path)
+}
+\arguments{
+\item{cache_path}{The path to save the chunk cache, as provided by \code{knitr} during chunk execution.}
+}
+\description{
+This provides a \code{reticulate} cache engine for \code{knitr}. The cache engine
+allows \code{knitr} to save and load Python sessions between cached chunks. The
+cache engine depends on the \code{dill} Python module. Therefore, you must have
+\code{dill} installed in your Python environment.
+}
+\details{
+The engine can be activated by setting (for example)\preformatted{knitr::cache_engines$set(python = reticulate::cache_eng_python)
+}
+
+Typically, this will be set within a document's setup chunk, or by the
+environment requesting that Python chunks be processed by this engine.
+}