diff --git a/rest_framework/__init__.pxd b/rest_framework/__init__.pxd
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb
diff --git a/rest_framework/renderers.pxd b/rest_framework/renderers.pxd
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4a30472f9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rest_framework/renderers.pxd
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# coding: utf-8
+
+cimport cython
+
+@cython.locals(media_type=unicode, format=unicode, charset=unicode, render_style=unicode)
+cdef class BaseRenderer(object):
+    """
+    All renderers should extend this class, setting the `media_type`
+    and `format` attributes, and override the `.render()` method.
+    """
+
+    @cython.locals(indent=int, separators=tuple)
+    cpdef object render(self, dict data, accepted_media_type=?, renderer_context=?)
+
+@cython.locals(compact=bool, ensure_ascii=bool, charset=unicode)
+cdef class JSONRenderer(BaseRenderer):
+    @cython.locals(base_media_type=unicode, params=dict)
+    cpdef int get_indent(self, unicode accepted_media_type, dict renderer_context)
+
+@cython.locals(callback_parameter=unicode, default_callback=unicode)
+cdef class JSONPRenderer(JSONRenderer):
+    cpdef unicode get_callback(self, dict renderer_context)
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index efe39d8d4..d26000f3c 100755
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -1,12 +1,21 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
-from setuptools import setup
-from setuptools.command.test import test as TestCommand
+try:
+    from Cython.Build import cythonize
+except ImportError:
+    ext_modules = None
+else:
+    from setuptools import Extension
+    ext_modules = cythonize(Extension('speedups', ['rest_framework/renderers.py',
+                                                   'rest_framework/__init__.py']))
+
 import re
 import os
 import sys
 
+from setuptools import setup
+
 
 def get_version(package):
     """
@@ -43,7 +52,6 @@ def get_package_data(package):
 
 version = get_version('rest_framework')
 
-
 if sys.argv[-1] == 'publish':
     if os.system("pip freeze | grep wheel"):
         print("wheel not installed.\nUse `pip install wheel`.\nExiting.")
@@ -55,7 +63,6 @@ if sys.argv[-1] == 'publish':
     print("  git push --tags")
     sys.exit()
 
-
 setup(
     name='djangorestframework',
     version=version,
@@ -68,6 +75,7 @@ setup(
     package_data=get_package_data('rest_framework'),
     install_requires=[],
     zip_safe=False,
+    ext_modules=ext_modules,
     classifiers=[
         'Development Status :: 5 - Production/Stable',
         'Environment :: Web Environment',
@@ -82,7 +90,7 @@ setup(
 )
 
 # (*) Please direct queries to the discussion group, rather than to me directly
-#     Doing so helps ensure your question is helpful to other users.
-#     Queries directly to my email are likely to receive a canned response.
+# Doing so helps ensure your question is helpful to other users.
+# Queries directly to my email are likely to receive a canned response.
 #
 #     Many thanks for your understanding.