diff --git a/django/template/backends/django.py b/django/template/backends/django.py
index 942445d367..65c65bdeee 100644
--- a/django/template/backends/django.py
+++ b/django/template/backends/django.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ from __future__ import absolute_import
 import warnings
 
 from django.conf import settings
-from django.template.context import Context, RequestContext
+from django.template.context import Context, RequestContext, make_context
 from django.template.engine import Engine, _dirs_undefined
 from django.utils.deprecation import RemovedInDjango20Warning
 
@@ -69,14 +69,6 @@ class Template(object):
                 RemovedInDjango20Warning, stacklevel=2)
 
         else:
-            if request is None:
-                context = Context(context)
-            else:
-                # The following pattern is required to ensure values from
-                # context override those from template context processors.
-                original_context = context
-                context = RequestContext(request)
-                if original_context:
-                    context.push(original_context)
+            context = make_context(context, request)
 
         return self.template.render(context)
diff --git a/django/template/context.py b/django/template/context.py
index aff8aa2e1c..01d21a159a 100644
--- a/django/template/context.py
+++ b/django/template/context.py
@@ -234,3 +234,19 @@ class RequestContext(Context):
         if hasattr(new_context, '_processors_index'):
             del new_context._processors_index
         return new_context
+
+
+def make_context(context, request=None):
+    """
+    Create a suitable Context from a plain dict and optionally an HttpRequest.
+    """
+    if request is None:
+        context = Context(context)
+    else:
+        # The following pattern is required to ensure values from
+        # context override those from template context processors.
+        original_context = context
+        context = RequestContext(request)
+        if original_context:
+            context.push(original_context)
+    return context