diff --git a/django/views/decorators/csrf.py b/django/views/decorators/csrf.py
index c9fd82ceed..9b92d26e95 100644
--- a/django/views/decorators/csrf.py
+++ b/django/views/decorators/csrf.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import warnings
 
-from django.middleware.csrf import CsrfViewMiddleware
+from django.middleware.csrf import CsrfViewMiddleware, get_token
 from django.utils.decorators import decorator_from_middleware, available_attrs
 from functools import wraps
 
@@ -28,6 +28,26 @@ RequestContext, but without the CSRF protection that csrf_protect
 enforces.
 """
 
+
+class _EnsureCsrfCookie(CsrfViewMiddleware):
+    def _reject(self, request, reason):
+        return None
+
+    def process_view(self, request, callback, callback_args, callback_kwargs):
+        retval = super(_EnsureCsrfCookie, self).process_view(request, callback, callback_args, callback_kwargs)
+        # Forces process_response to send the cookie
+        get_token(request)
+        return retval
+
+
+ensure_csrf_cookie = decorator_from_middleware(_EnsureCsrfCookie)
+ensure_csrf_cookie.__name__ = 'ensure_csrf_cookie'
+ensure_csrf_cookie.__doc__ = """
+Use this decorator to ensure that a view sets a CSRF cookie, whether or not it
+uses the csrf_token template tag, or the CsrfViewMiddleware is used.
+"""
+
+
 def csrf_response_exempt(view_func):
     """
     Modifies a view function so that its response is exempt
diff --git a/docs/ref/contrib/csrf.txt b/docs/ref/contrib/csrf.txt
index 8acab718d3..7ff7d53aa0 100644
--- a/docs/ref/contrib/csrf.txt
+++ b/docs/ref/contrib/csrf.txt
@@ -132,6 +132,10 @@ The above code could be simplified by using the `jQuery cookie plugin
 `settings.crossDomain <http://api.jquery.com/jQuery.ajax>`_ in jQuery 1.5 and
 later to replace ``sameOrigin``.
 
+In addition, if the CSRF cookie has not been sent to the client by use of
+:ttag:`csrf_token`, you may need to ensure the client receives the cookie by
+using :func:`~django.views.decorators.csrf.ensure_csrf_cookie`.
+
 The decorator method
 --------------------
 
@@ -328,6 +332,10 @@ Utilities
             # ...
             return render(request, "a_template.html", c)
 
+.. function:: ensure_csrf_cookie(view)
+
+    This decorator forces a view to send the CSRF cookie.
+
 Scenarios
 ---------
 
@@ -381,6 +389,15 @@ path within it that needs protection. Example::
         else:
            do_something_else()
 
+Page uses AJAX without any HTML form
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+A page makes a POST request via AJAX, and the page does not have an HTML form
+with a :ttag:`csrf_token` that would cause the required CSRF cookie to be sent.
+
+Solution: use :func:`~django.views.decorators.csrf.ensure_csrf_cookie` on the
+view that sends the page.
+
 Contrib and reusable apps
 =========================
 
diff --git a/tests/regressiontests/csrf_tests/tests.py b/tests/regressiontests/csrf_tests/tests.py
index a98a6a4282..1285c1ddac 100644
--- a/tests/regressiontests/csrf_tests/tests.py
+++ b/tests/regressiontests/csrf_tests/tests.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import warnings
 from django.test import TestCase
 from django.http import HttpRequest, HttpResponse
 from django.middleware.csrf import CsrfViewMiddleware
-from django.views.decorators.csrf import csrf_exempt, requires_csrf_token
+from django.views.decorators.csrf import csrf_exempt, requires_csrf_token, ensure_csrf_cookie
 from django.core.context_processors import csrf
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.template import RequestContext, Template
@@ -249,3 +249,35 @@ class CsrfViewMiddlewareTest(TestCase):
         req.META['HTTP_REFERER'] = 'https://www.example.com'
         req2 = CsrfViewMiddleware().process_view(req, post_form_view, (), {})
         self.assertEqual(None, req2)
+
+    def test_ensures_csrf_cookie_no_middleware(self):
+        """
+        Tests that ensures_csrf_cookie decorator fulfils its promise
+        with no middleware
+        """
+        @ensure_csrf_cookie
+        def view(request):
+            # Doesn't insert a token or anything
+            return HttpResponse(content="")
+
+        req = self._get_GET_no_csrf_cookie_request()
+        resp = view(req)
+        self.assertTrue(resp.cookies.get(settings.CSRF_COOKIE_NAME, False))
+        self.assertTrue('Cookie' in resp.get('Vary',''))
+
+    def test_ensures_csrf_cookie_with_middleware(self):
+        """
+        Tests that ensures_csrf_cookie decorator fulfils its promise
+        with the middleware enabled.
+        """
+        @ensure_csrf_cookie
+        def view(request):
+            # Doesn't insert a token or anything
+            return HttpResponse(content="")
+
+        req = self._get_GET_no_csrf_cookie_request()
+        CsrfViewMiddleware().process_view(req, view, (), {})
+        resp = view(req)
+        resp2 = CsrfViewMiddleware().process_response(req, resp)
+        self.assertTrue(resp2.cookies.get(settings.CSRF_COOKIE_NAME, False))
+        self.assertTrue('Cookie' in resp2.get('Vary',''))