diff --git a/IPython/__init__.py b/IPython/__init__.py
index 6bf231b..df54346 100644
--- a/IPython/__init__.py
+++ b/IPython/__init__.py
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ from .core.error import TryNext
 from .core.interactiveshell import InteractiveShell
 from .testing import test
 from .utils.sysinfo import sys_info
-from .utils.frame import caller_module_and_locals
+from .utils.frame import extract_module_locals_above
 
 # Release data
 __author__ = ''
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ __version__  = release.version
 
 def embed_kernel(module=None, local_ns=None):
     """Call this to embed an IPython kernel at the current point in your program. """
-    (caller_module, caller_locals) = caller_module_and_locals()
+    (caller_module, caller_locals) = extract_module_locals_above()
     if module is None:
         module = caller_module
     if local_ns is None:
diff --git a/IPython/utils/frame.py b/IPython/utils/frame.py
index 3b19072..cd3563a 100644
--- a/IPython/utils/frame.py
+++ b/IPython/utils/frame.py
@@ -85,10 +85,16 @@ def debugx(expr,pre_msg=''):
 # deactivate it by uncommenting the following line, which makes it a no-op
 #def debugx(expr,pre_msg=''): pass
 
-def caller_module_and_locals():
-    """Returns (module, locals) of the caller"""
-    caller = sys._getframe(2)
-    global_ns = caller.f_globals
+def extract_module_locals(depth=0):
+    """Returns (module, locals) of the funciton `depth` frames away from the caller"""
+    f = sys._getframe(depth + 1)
+    global_ns = f.f_globals
     module = sys.modules[global_ns['__name__']]
-    return (module, caller.f_locals)
+    return (module, f.f_locals)
+
+def extract_module_locals_above():
+    """Returns (module, locals) of the funciton calling the caller.
+    Like extract_module_locals() with a specified depth of 1."""
+    # we're one frame away from the target, the function we call would be two frames away
+    return extract_module_locals(1 + 1)