diff --git a/mercurial/ui.py b/mercurial/ui.py
--- a/mercurial/ui.py
+++ b/mercurial/ui.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 
 from i18n import _
 import errno, getpass, os, socket, sys, tempfile, traceback
-import config, scmutil, util, error
+import config, scmutil, util, error, formatter
 
 class ui(object):
     def __init__(self, src=None):
@@ -46,6 +46,9 @@ class ui(object):
     def copy(self):
         return self.__class__(self)
 
+    def formatter(self, topic, opts):
+        return formatter.formatter(self, topic, opts)
+
     def _trusted(self, fp, f):
         st = util.fstat(fp)
         if util.isowner(st):