diff --git a/tests/functional_tests/functional_tests_rpc.py b/tests/functional_tests/functional_tests_rpc.py
index 606b19e45..f2fef7e95 100755
--- a/tests/functional_tests/functional_tests_rpc.py
+++ b/tests/functional_tests/functional_tests_rpc.py
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ try:
   PYTHONPATH = os.environ['PYTHONPATH'] if 'PYTHONPATH' in os.environ else ''
   if len(PYTHONPATH) > 0:
     PYTHONPATH += ':'
-  PYTHONPATH += '../../utils/python-rpc'
+  PYTHONPATH += srcdir + '/../../utils/python-rpc'
   os.environ['PYTHONPATH'] = PYTHONPATH
   for i in range(len(command_lines)):
     #print('Running: ' + str(command_lines[i]))
diff --git a/utils/python-rpc/console.py b/utils/python-rpc/console.py
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..ab0d9f27f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/utils/python-rpc/console.py
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+
+from __future__ import print_function
+import sys
+import subprocess
+import socket
+from framework import rpc
+from framework import wallet
+from framework import daemon
+
+USAGE = 'usage: python -i console.py <port>'
+try:
+  port = int(sys.argv[1])
+except:
+  print(USAGE)
+  sys.exit(1)
+
+# check for open port
+s = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
+s.settimeout(1)
+if s.connect_ex(('127.0.0.1', port)) != 0:
+  print('No wallet or daemon RPC on port ' + str(port))
+  sys.exit(1)
+s.close()
+
+# both wallet and daemon have a get_version JSON RPC
+rpc = rpc.JSONRPC('{protocol}://{host}:{port}'.format(protocol='http', host='127.0.0.1', port=port))
+get_version = {
+    'method': 'get_version',
+    'jsonrpc': '2.0', 
+    'id': '0'
+}
+try:
+  res = rpc.send_json_rpc_request(get_version)
+except Exception, e:
+  print('Failed to call version RPC: ' + str(e))
+  sys.exit(1)
+
+if 'version' not in res:
+  print('Server is not a monero process')
+  sys.exit(1)
+
+if 'status' in res:
+  rpc = daemon.Daemon(port=port)
+else:
+  rpc = wallet.Wallet(port=port)
+
+print('Connected to %s RPC on port %u' % ('daemon' if 'status' in res else 'wallet', port))
+print('The \'rpc\' object may now be used to use the API')
diff --git a/utils/python-rpc/framework/daemon.py b/utils/python-rpc/framework/daemon.py
index 11d5f5845..83c8eea67 100644
--- a/utils/python-rpc/framework/daemon.py
+++ b/utils/python-rpc/framework/daemon.py
@@ -196,3 +196,11 @@ class Daemon(object):
             'id': '0'
         }
         return self.rpc.send_json_rpc_request(flush_txpool)
+
+    def get_version(self):
+        get_version = {
+            'method': 'get_version',
+            'jsonrpc': '2.0',
+            'id': '0'
+        }
+        return self.rpc.send_json_rpc_request(get_version)
diff --git a/utils/python-rpc/framework/wallet.py b/utils/python-rpc/framework/wallet.py
index e9f13667b..ea683b8c5 100644
--- a/utils/python-rpc/framework/wallet.py
+++ b/utils/python-rpc/framework/wallet.py
@@ -590,3 +590,11 @@ class Wallet(object):
             'id': '0'
         }
         return self.rpc.send_json_rpc_request(verify)
+
+    def get_version(self):
+        get_version = {
+            'method': 'get_version',
+            'jsonrpc': '2.0', 
+            'id': '0'
+        }
+        return self.rpc.send_json_rpc_request(get_version)