diff --git a/django/core/handlers/base.py b/django/core/handlers/base.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5a5bf69d2f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/django/core/handlers/base.py
@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+from django.utils import httpwrappers
+
+class BaseHandler:
+    def __init__(self):
+        self._request_middleware = self._view_middleware = self._response_middleware = None
+
+    def load_middleware(self):
+        """
+        Populate middleware lists from settings.MIDDLEWARE_CLASSES.
+
+        Must be called after the environment is fixed (see __call__).
+        """
+        from django.conf import settings
+        from django.core import exceptions
+        self._request_middleware = []
+        self._view_middleware = []
+        self._response_middleware = []
+        for middleware_path in settings.MIDDLEWARE_CLASSES:
+            dot = middleware_path.rindex('.')
+            mw_module, mw_classname = middleware_path[:dot], middleware_path[dot+1:]
+            try:
+                mod = __import__(mw_module, '', '', [''])
+            except ImportError, e:
+                raise exceptions.ImproperlyConfigured, 'Error importing middleware %s: "%s"' % (mw_module, e)
+            try:
+                mw_class = getattr(mod, mw_classname)
+            except AttributeError:
+                raise exceptions.ImproperlyConfigured, 'Middleware module "%s" does not define a "%s" class' % (mw_module, mw_classname)
+
+            try:
+                mw_instance = mw_class()
+            except exceptions.MiddlewareNotUsed:
+                continue
+
+            if hasattr(mw_instance, 'process_request'):
+                self._request_middleware.append(mw_instance.process_request)
+            if hasattr(mw_instance, 'process_view'):
+                self._view_middleware.append(mw_instance.process_view)
+            if hasattr(mw_instance, 'process_response'):
+                self._response_middleware.insert(0, mw_instance.process_response)
+
+    def get_response(self, path, request):
+        "Returns an HttpResponse object for the given HttpRequest"
+        from django.core import db, exceptions, urlresolvers
+        from django.core.mail import mail_admins
+        from django.conf.settings import DEBUG, INTERNAL_IPS, ROOT_URLCONF
+
+        # Apply request middleware
+        for middleware_method in self._request_middleware:
+            response = middleware_method(request)
+            if response:
+                return response
+
+        conf_module = __import__(ROOT_URLCONF, '', '', [''])
+        resolver = urlresolvers.RegexURLResolver(conf_module.urlpatterns)
+        try:
+            callback, param_dict = resolver.resolve(path)
+            # Apply view middleware
+            for middleware_method in self._view_middleware:
+                response = middleware_method(request, callback, param_dict)
+                if response:
+                    return response
+            return callback(request, **param_dict)
+        except exceptions.Http404:
+            if DEBUG:
+                return self.get_technical_error_response(is404=True)
+            else:
+                resolver = urlresolvers.Error404Resolver(conf_module.handler404)
+                callback, param_dict = resolver.resolve()
+                return callback(request, **param_dict)
+        except db.DatabaseError:
+            db.db.rollback()
+            if DEBUG:
+                return self.get_technical_error_response()
+            else:
+                subject = 'Database error (%s IP)' % (request.META['REMOTE_ADDR'] in INTERNAL_IPS and 'internal' or 'EXTERNAL')
+                message = "%s\n\n%s" % (self._get_traceback(), request)
+                mail_admins(subject, message, fail_silently=True)
+                return self.get_friendly_error_response(request, conf_module)
+        except exceptions.PermissionDenied:
+            return httpwrappers.HttpResponseForbidden('<h1>Permission denied</h1>')
+        except: # Handle everything else, including SuspiciousOperation, etc.
+            if DEBUG:
+                return self.get_technical_error_response()
+            else:
+                subject = 'Coding error (%s IP)' % (request.META['REMOTE_ADDR'] in INTERNAL_IPS and 'internal' or 'EXTERNAL')
+                try:
+                    request_repr = repr(request)
+                except:
+                    request_repr = "Request repr() unavailable"
+                message = "%s\n\n%s" % (self._get_traceback(), request_repr)
+                mail_admins(subject, message, fail_silently=True)
+                return self.get_friendly_error_response(request, conf_module)
+
+    def get_friendly_error_response(self, request, conf_module):
+        """
+        Returns an HttpResponse that displays a PUBLIC error message for a
+        fundamental database or coding error.
+        """
+        from django.core import urlresolvers
+        resolver = urlresolvers.Error404Resolver(conf_module.handler500)
+        callback, param_dict = resolver.resolve()
+        return callback(request, **param_dict)
+
+    def get_technical_error_response(self, is404=False):
+        """
+        Returns an HttpResponse that displays a TECHNICAL error message for a
+        fundamental database or coding error.
+        """
+        error_string = "There's been an error:\n\n%s" % self._get_traceback()
+        responseClass = is404 and httpwrappers.HttpResponseNotFound or httpwrappers.HttpResponseServerError
+        return responseClass(error_string, mimetype='text/plain')
+
+    def _get_traceback(self):
+        "Helper function to return the traceback as a string"
+        import sys, traceback
+        return '\n'.join(traceback.format_exception(*sys.exc_info()))
diff --git a/django/core/handlers/modpython.py b/django/core/handlers/modpython.py
index 0ab186eb01..efc82f0cfd 100644
--- a/django/core/handlers/modpython.py
+++ b/django/core/handlers/modpython.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+from django.core.handlers.base import BaseHandler
 from django.utils import datastructures, httpwrappers
 from pprint import pformat
 import os
@@ -124,10 +125,7 @@ class ModPythonRequest(httpwrappers.HttpRequest):
     session = property(_get_session, _set_session)
     user = property(_get_user, _set_user)
 
-class ModPythonHandler:
-    def __init__(self):
-        self._request_middleware = self._view_middleware = self._response_middleware = None
-
+class ModPythonHandler(BaseHandler):
     def __call__(self, req):
         # mod_python fakes the environ, and thus doesn't process SetEnv.  This fixes that
         os.environ.update(req.subprocess_env)
@@ -155,118 +153,6 @@ class ModPythonHandler:
         populate_apache_request(response, req)
         return 0 # mod_python.apache.OK
 
-    def load_middleware(self):
-        """
-        Populate middleware lists from settings.MIDDLEWARE_CLASSES.
-
-        Must be called after the environment is fixed (see __call__).
-        """
-        from django.conf import settings
-        from django.core import exceptions
-        self._request_middleware = []
-        self._view_middleware = []
-        self._response_middleware = []
-        for middleware_path in settings.MIDDLEWARE_CLASSES:
-            dot = middleware_path.rindex('.')
-            mw_module, mw_classname = middleware_path[:dot], middleware_path[dot+1:]
-            try:
-                mod = __import__(mw_module, '', '', [''])
-            except ImportError, e:
-                raise exceptions.ImproperlyConfigured, 'Error importing middleware %s: "%s"' % (mw_module, e)
-            try:
-                mw_class = getattr(mod, mw_classname)
-            except AttributeError:
-                raise exceptions.ImproperlyConfigured, 'Middleware module "%s" does not define a "%s" class' % (mw_module, mw_classname)
-
-            try:
-                mw_instance = mw_class()
-            except exceptions.MiddlewareNotUsed:
-                continue
-
-            if hasattr(mw_instance, 'process_request'):
-                self._request_middleware.append(mw_instance.process_request)
-            if hasattr(mw_instance, 'process_view'):
-                self._view_middleware.append(mw_instance.process_view)
-            if hasattr(mw_instance, 'process_response'):
-                self._response_middleware.insert(0, mw_instance.process_response)
-
-    def get_response(self, path, request):
-        "Returns an HttpResponse object for the given HttpRequest"
-        from django.core import db, exceptions, urlresolvers
-        from django.core.mail import mail_admins
-        from django.conf.settings import DEBUG, INTERNAL_IPS, ROOT_URLCONF
-
-        # Apply request middleware
-        for middleware_method in self._request_middleware:
-            response = middleware_method(request)
-            if response:
-                return response
-
-        conf_module = __import__(ROOT_URLCONF, '', '', [''])
-        resolver = urlresolvers.RegexURLResolver(conf_module.urlpatterns)
-        try:
-            callback, param_dict = resolver.resolve(path)
-            # Apply view middleware
-            for middleware_method in self._view_middleware:
-                response = middleware_method(request, callback, param_dict)
-                if response:
-                    return response
-            return callback(request, **param_dict)
-        except exceptions.Http404:
-            if DEBUG:
-                return self.get_technical_error_response(is404=True)
-            else:
-                resolver = urlresolvers.Error404Resolver(conf_module.handler404)
-                callback, param_dict = resolver.resolve()
-                return callback(request, **param_dict)
-        except db.DatabaseError:
-            db.db.rollback()
-            if DEBUG:
-                return self.get_technical_error_response()
-            else:
-                subject = 'Database error (%s IP)' % (request.META['REMOTE_ADDR'] in INTERNAL_IPS and 'internal' or 'EXTERNAL')
-                message = "%s\n\n%s" % (self._get_traceback(), request)
-                mail_admins(subject, message, fail_silently=True)
-                return self.get_friendly_error_response(request, conf_module)
-        except exceptions.PermissionDenied:
-            return httpwrappers.HttpResponseForbidden('<h1>Permission denied</h1>')
-        except: # Handle everything else, including SuspiciousOperation, etc.
-            if DEBUG:
-                return self.get_technical_error_response()
-            else:
-                subject = 'Coding error (%s IP)' % (request.META['REMOTE_ADDR'] in INTERNAL_IPS and 'internal' or 'EXTERNAL')
-                try:
-                    request_repr = repr(request)
-                except:
-                    request_repr = "Request repr() unavailable"
-                message = "%s\n\n%s" % (self._get_traceback(), request_repr)
-                mail_admins(subject, message, fail_silently=True)
-                return self.get_friendly_error_response(request, conf_module)
-
-    def get_friendly_error_response(self, request, conf_module):
-        """
-        Returns an HttpResponse that displays a PUBLIC error message for a
-        fundamental database or coding error.
-        """
-        from django.core import urlresolvers
-        resolver = urlresolvers.Error404Resolver(conf_module.handler500)
-        callback, param_dict = resolver.resolve()
-        return callback(request, **param_dict)
-
-    def get_technical_error_response(self, is404=False):
-        """
-        Returns an HttpResponse that displays a TECHNICAL error message for a
-        fundamental database or coding error.
-        """
-        error_string = "There's been an error:\n\n%s" % self._get_traceback()
-        responseClass = is404 and httpwrappers.HttpResponseNotFound or httpwrappers.HttpResponseServerError
-        return responseClass(error_string, mimetype='text/plain')
-
-    def _get_traceback(self):
-        "Helper function to return the traceback as a string"
-        import sys, traceback
-        return '\n'.join(traceback.format_exception(*sys.exc_info()))
-
 def populate_apache_request(http_response, mod_python_req):
     "Populates the mod_python request object with an HttpResponse"
     mod_python_req.content_type = http_response['Content-Type'] or httpwrappers.DEFAULT_MIME_TYPE
diff --git a/django/core/handlers/wsgi.py b/django/core/handlers/wsgi.py
index 75415ab5ad..9f0c035c53 100644
--- a/django/core/handlers/wsgi.py
+++ b/django/core/handlers/wsgi.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+from django.core.handlers.base import BaseHandler
 from django.utils import datastructures, httpwrappers
 from pprint import pformat
 
@@ -104,10 +105,7 @@ class WSGIRequest(httpwrappers.HttpRequest):
     session = property(_get_session, _set_session)
     user = property(_get_user, _set_user)
 
-class WSGIHandler:
-    def __init__(self):
-        self._request_middleware = self._view_middleware = self._response_middleware = None
-
+class WSGIHandler(BaseHandler):
     def __call__(self, environ, start_response):
         from django.conf import settings
         from django.core import db
@@ -139,118 +137,6 @@ class WSGIHandler:
         start_response(status, response_headers.items())
         return output
 
-    def load_middleware(self):
-        """
-        Populate middleware lists from settings.MIDDLEWARE_CLASSES.
-
-        Must be called after the environment is fixed (see __call__).
-        """
-        from django.conf import settings
-        from django.core import exceptions
-        self._request_middleware = []
-        self._view_middleware = []
-        self._response_middleware = []
-        for middleware_path in settings.MIDDLEWARE_CLASSES:
-            dot = middleware_path.rindex('.')
-            mw_module, mw_classname = middleware_path[:dot], middleware_path[dot+1:]
-            try:
-                mod = __import__(mw_module, '', '', [''])
-            except ImportError, e:
-                raise exceptions.ImproperlyConfigured, \
-                    'Error importing middleware %s: "%s"' % (mw_module, e)
-            try:
-                mw_class = getattr(mod, mw_classname)
-            except AttributeError:
-                raise exceptions.ImproperlyConfigured, \
-                    'Middleware module "%s" does not define a "%s" class' % (mw_module, mw_classname)
-
-            try:
-                mw_instance = mw_class()
-            except exceptions.MiddlewareNotUsed:
-                continue
-
-            if hasattr(mw_instance, 'process_request'):
-                self._request_middleware.append(mw_instance.process_request)
-            if hasattr(mw_instance, 'process_view'):
-                self._view_middleware.append(mw_instance.process_view)
-            if hasattr(mw_instance, 'process_response'):
-                self._response_middleware.insert(0, mw_instance.process_response)
-
-    def get_response(self, path, request):
-        "Returns an HttpResponse object for the given HttpRequest"
-        from django.core import db, exceptions, urlresolvers
-        from django.core.mail import mail_admins
-        from django.conf.settings import DEBUG, INTERNAL_IPS, ROOT_URLCONF
-
-        # Apply request middleware
-        for middleware_method in self._request_middleware:
-            response = middleware_method(request)
-            if response:
-                return response
-
-        conf_module = __import__(ROOT_URLCONF, '', '', [''])
-        resolver = urlresolvers.RegexURLResolver(conf_module.urlpatterns)
-        try:
-            callback, param_dict = resolver.resolve(path)
-            # Apply view middleware
-            for middleware_method in self._view_middleware:
-                response = middleware_method(request, callback, param_dict)
-                if response:
-                    return response
-            return callback(request, **param_dict)
-        except exceptions.Http404:
-            if DEBUG:
-                return self.get_technical_error_response(is404=True)
-            else:
-                resolver = urlresolvers.Error404Resolver(conf_module.handler404)
-                callback, param_dict = resolver.resolve()
-                return callback(request, **param_dict)
-        except db.DatabaseError:
-            db.db.rollback()
-            if DEBUG:
-                return self.get_technical_error_response()
-            else:
-                subject = 'Database error (%s IP)' % \
-                    (request.META['REMOTE_ADDR'] in INTERNAL_IPS and 'internal' or 'EXTERNAL')
-                message = "%s\n\n%s" % (self._get_traceback(), request)
-                mail_admins(subject, message, fail_silently=True)
-                return self.get_friendly_error_response(request, conf_module)
-        except exceptions.PermissionDenied:
-            return httpwrappers.HttpResponseForbidden('<h1>Permission denied</h1>')
-        except: # Handle everything else, including SuspiciousOperation, etc.
-            if DEBUG:
-                return self.get_technical_error_response()
-            else:
-                subject = 'Coding error (%s IP)' % \
-                    (request.META['REMOTE_ADDR'] in INTERNAL_IPS and 'internal' or 'EXTERNAL')
-                message = "%s\n\n%s" % (self._get_traceback(), request)
-                mail_admins(subject, message, fail_silently=True)
-                return self.get_friendly_error_response(request, conf_module)
-
-    def get_friendly_error_response(self, request, conf_module):
-        """
-        Returns an HttpResponse that displays a PUBLIC error message for a
-        fundamental database or coding error.
-        """
-        from django.core import urlresolvers
-        resolver = urlresolvers.Error404Resolver(conf_module.handler500)
-        callback, param_dict = resolver.resolve()
-        return callback(request, **param_dict)
-
-    def get_technical_error_response(self, is404=False):
-        """
-        Returns an HttpResponse that displays a TECHNICAL error message for a
-        fundamental database or coding error.
-        """
-        error_string = "There's been an error:\n\n%s" % self._get_traceback()
-        responseClass = is404 and httpwrappers.HttpResponseNotFound or httpwrappers.HttpResponseServerError
-        return responseClass(error_string, mimetype='text/plain')
-
-    def _get_traceback(self):
-        "Helper function to return the traceback as a string"
-        import sys, traceback
-        return '\n'.join(traceback.format_exception(*sys.exc_info()))
-
 class AdminMediaHandler:
     """
     WSGI middleware that intercepts calls to the admin media directory, as