diff --git a/IPython/zmq/ipkernel.py b/IPython/zmq/ipkernel.py
index 33b70cb..413d7c2 100755
--- a/IPython/zmq/ipkernel.py
+++ b/IPython/zmq/ipkernel.py
@@ -226,11 +226,11 @@ class Kernel(Configurable):
     # Kernel request handlers
     #---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-    def _publish_pyin(self, code, parent):
+    def _publish_pyin(self, code, parent, execution_count):
         """Publish the code request on the pyin stream."""
 
-        self.session.send(self.iopub_socket, u'pyin', {u'code':code},
-                          parent=parent)
+        self.session.send(self.iopub_socket, u'pyin', {u'code':code,
+                          u'execution_count': execution_count}, parent=parent)
 
     def execute_request(self, ident, parent):
 
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ class Kernel(Configurable):
         # Re-broadcast our input for the benefit of listening clients, and
         # start computing output
         if not silent:
-            self._publish_pyin(code, parent)
+            self._publish_pyin(code, parent, shell.execution_count)
 
         reply_content = {}
         try:
diff --git a/docs/source/development/messaging.txt b/docs/source/development/messaging.txt
index 32350e7..1b901a9 100644
--- a/docs/source/development/messaging.txt
+++ b/docs/source/development/messaging.txt
@@ -766,7 +766,12 @@ These messages are the re-broadcast of the ``execute_request``.
 Message type: ``pyin``::
 
     content = {
-        'code' : str  # Source code to be executed, one or more lines
+        'code' : str,  # Source code to be executed, one or more lines
+
+        # The counter for this execution is also provided so that clients can
+        # display it, since IPython automatically creates variables called _iN
+        # (for input prompt In[N]).
+        'execution_count' : int
     }
 
 Python outputs