diff --git a/doc/api.markdown b/doc/api.markdown
index b6ff2748a17..732e8e02c4b 100644
--- a/doc/api.markdown
+++ b/doc/api.markdown
@@ -68,6 +68,14 @@ strip the high bit if set.
 
 Allocates a new buffer of `size` octets.
 
+### new Buffer(array)
+
+Allocates a new buffer using an `array` of octets.
+
+### new Buffer(str, encoding = 'utf8')
+
+Allocates a new buffer containing the given `str`.
+
 ### buffer.write(string, encoding, offset)
 
 Writes `string` to the buffer at `offset` using the given encoding. Returns
diff --git a/src/node_buffer.cc b/src/node_buffer.cc
index d757b9623c9..5d5a389fb1e 100644
--- a/src/node_buffer.cc
+++ b/src/node_buffer.cc
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ using namespace v8;
 
 static Persistent<String> length_symbol;
 static Persistent<String> chars_written_sym;
+static Persistent<String> write_sym;
 Persistent<FunctionTemplate> Buffer::constructor_template;
 
 
@@ -128,6 +129,18 @@ Handle<Value> Buffer::New(const Arguments &args) {
     size_t length = args[0]->Uint32Value();
     buffer = new Buffer(length);
 
+  } else if (args[0]->IsArray()) {
+    Local<Array> a = Local<Array>::Cast(args[0]);
+    buffer = new Buffer(a->Length());
+    char *p = buffer->data();
+    for (int i = 0; i < a->Length(); i++) {
+      p[i] = a->Get(i)->Uint32Value();
+    }
+  } else if (args[0]->IsString()) {
+    Local<String> s = args[0]->ToString();
+    enum encoding e = ParseEncoding(args[1], UTF8);
+    int length = e == UTF8 ? s->Utf8Length() : s->Length();
+    buffer = new Buffer(length);
   } else if (Buffer::HasInstance(args[0]) && args.Length() > 2) {
     // var slice = new Buffer(buffer, 123, 130);
     // args: parent, start, end
@@ -143,6 +156,27 @@ Handle<Value> Buffer::New(const Arguments &args) {
                                                        kExternalUnsignedByteArray,
                                                        buffer->length());
   args.This()->Set(length_symbol, Integer::New(buffer->length_));
+
+  if (args[0]->IsString()) {
+    if (write_sym.IsEmpty()) {
+      write_sym = Persistent<String>::New(String::NewSymbol("write"));
+    }
+
+    Local<Value> write_v = args.This()->Get(write_sym);
+    assert(write_v->IsFunction());
+    Local<Function> write = Local<Function>::Cast(write_v);
+
+    Local<Value> argv[2] = { args[0], args[1] };
+
+    TryCatch try_catch;
+
+    write->Call(args.This(), 2, argv);
+
+    if (try_catch.HasCaught()) {
+      FatalException(try_catch);
+    }
+  }
+
   return args.This();
 }
 
diff --git a/test/simple/test-buffer.js b/test/simple/test-buffer.js
index 17d6f08d56a..89a0148119e 100644
--- a/test/simple/test-buffer.js
+++ b/test/simple/test-buffer.js
@@ -106,3 +106,16 @@ assert.equal(7, b[3]);
 var c = b.slice(2 , 4);
 assert.equal(6, c[0]);
 assert.equal(7, c[1]);
+
+
+var d = new Buffer([23, 42, 255]);
+assert.equal(d.length, 3);
+assert.equal(d[0], 23);
+assert.equal(d[1], 42);
+assert.equal(d[2], 255);
+
+var e = new Buffer('über');
+assert.deepEqual(e, new Buffer([195, 188, 98, 101, 114]));
+
+var f = new Buffer('über', 'ascii');
+assert.deepEqual(f, new Buffer([252, 98, 101, 114]));
\ No newline at end of file