diff --git a/kmailIface.h b/kmailIface.h
index fc6bbf6bf..a08cfdefd 100644
--- a/kmailIface.h
+++ b/kmailIface.h
@@ -111,6 +111,9 @@ k_dcop_signals:
   void unreadCountChanged( const QString& folderURL, int numUnread );
 
 k_dcop_hidden:
+  /** DCOP call which is used by the Kontact plugin to create a new message. */
+  virtual DCOPRef newMessage() = 0;
+
   virtual bool showMail( Q_UINT32 serialNumber, QString messageId ) = 0;
   /**
    * DCOP-enabled for KMailUniqueAppHandler in the kontact plugin
diff --git a/kmkernel.cpp b/kmkernel.cpp
index 5bb2b2649..ad8b757d0 100644
--- a/kmkernel.cpp
+++ b/kmkernel.cpp
@@ -508,6 +508,28 @@ DCOPRef KMKernel::openComposer(const QString &to, const QString &cc,
   return DCOPRef(cWin);
 }
 
+DCOPRef KMKernel::newMessage()
+{
+  KMFolder *folder = 0;
+  KMMainWidget *widget = getKMMainWidget();
+  if ( widget && widget->folderTree() )
+    folder = widget->folderTree()->currentFolder();
+
+  // the following code is basically the same as in KMMainWidget::slotCompose()
+  KMComposeWin *win;
+  KMMessage *msg = new KMMessage;
+  if ( folder ) {
+    msg->initHeader( folder->identity() );
+    win = new KMComposeWin( msg, folder->identity() );
+  } else {
+    msg->initHeader();
+    win = new KMComposeWin( msg );
+  }
+  win->show();
+
+  return DCOPRef( win );
+}
+
 int KMKernel::viewMessage( const KURL & messageFile )
 {
   KMOpenMsgCommand *openCommand = new KMOpenMsgCommand( 0, messageFile );
diff --git a/kmkernel.h b/kmkernel.h
index c32d2ddfd..633d3285b 100644
--- a/kmkernel.h
+++ b/kmkernel.h
@@ -125,6 +125,9 @@ public:
                        const QString &bcc, const QString &subject,
                        const QString &body,bool hidden);
 
+  /** DCOP call used by the Kontact plugin to create a new message. */
+  DCOPRef newMessage();
+
   int sendCertificate( const QString& to, const QByteArray& certData );
 
   void openReader() { openReader( false ); }