diff --git a/django/conf/global_settings.py b/django/conf/global_settings.py
index a1dff3c815..70c37d4de2 100644
--- a/django/conf/global_settings.py
+++ b/django/conf/global_settings.py
@@ -91,6 +91,9 @@ DATABASE_PASSWORD = ''         # Not used with sqlite3.
 DATABASE_HOST = ''             # Set to empty string for localhost. Not used with sqlite3.
 DATABASE_PORT = ''             # Set to empty string for default. Not used with sqlite3.
 
+# Optional named database connections in addition to the default.
+DATABASES = {}
+
 # Host for sending e-mail.
 EMAIL_HOST = 'localhost'