diff --git a/app/scripts/account-import-strategies/index.js b/app/scripts/account-import-strategies/index.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8f4456cdf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/scripts/account-import-strategies/index.js
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+const Wallet = require('ethereumjs-wallet')
+const importers = require('ethereumjs-wallet/thirdparty')
+const ethUtil = require('ethereumjs-util')
+
+const accountImporter = {
+
+  importAccount(strategy, args) {
+    try {
+      const importer = this.strategies[strategy]
+      const wallet = importer.apply(null, args)
+      const privateKeyHex = walletToPrivateKey(wallet)
+      return Promise.resolve(privateKeyHex)
+    } catch (e) {
+      return Promise.reject(e)
+    }
+  },
+
+  strategies: {
+    'Private Key': (privateKey) => {
+      const stripped = ethUtil.stripHexPrefix(privateKey)
+      const buffer = new Buffer(stripped, 'hex')
+      return Wallet.fromPrivateKey(buffer)
+    },
+    'JSON File': (input, password) => {
+      const wallet = importers.fromEtherWallet(input, password)
+      return walletToPrivateKey(wallet)
+    },
+  },
+
+}
+
+function walletToPrivateKey (wallet) {
+  const privateKeyBuffer = wallet.getPrivateKey()
+  return ethUtil.bufferToHex(privateKeyBuffer)
+}
+
+module.exports = accountImporter
diff --git a/app/scripts/metamask-controller.js b/app/scripts/metamask-controller.js
index 629216e42..7084bbc2d 100644
--- a/app/scripts/metamask-controller.js
+++ b/app/scripts/metamask-controller.js
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ const extension = require('./lib/extension')
 const autoFaucet = require('./lib/auto-faucet')
 const nodeify = require('./lib/nodeify')
 const IdStoreMigrator = require('./lib/idStore-migrator')
+const accountImporter = require('./account-import-strategies')
 const version = require('../manifest.json').version
 
 module.exports = class MetamaskController extends EventEmitter {
@@ -121,6 +122,16 @@ module.exports = class MetamaskController extends EventEmitter {
         .then((newState) => { cb(null, newState) })
         .catch((reason) => { cb(reason) })
       },
+      importAccountWithStrategy: (strategy, args, cb) => {
+        accountImporter.importAccount(strategy, args)
+        .then((privateKey) => {
+          return keyringController.addNewKeyring('Simple Key Pair', [ privateKey ])
+        })
+        .then(keyring => keyring.getAccounts())
+        .then((accounts) => keyringController.setSelectedAccount(accounts[0]))
+        .then(() => { cb(null, keyringController.fullUpdate()) })
+        .catch((reason) => { cb(reason) })
+      },
       addNewAccount: nodeify(keyringController.addNewAccount).bind(keyringController),
       setSelectedAccount: nodeify(keyringController.setSelectedAccount).bind(keyringController),
       saveAccountLabel: nodeify(keyringController.saveAccountLabel).bind(keyringController),
diff --git a/ui/app/accounts/import/private-key.js b/ui/app/accounts/import/private-key.js
index 6b988a76b..b139a0374 100644
--- a/ui/app/accounts/import/private-key.js
+++ b/ui/app/accounts/import/private-key.js
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ const inherits = require('util').inherits
 const Component = require('react').Component
 const h = require('react-hyperscript')
 const connect = require('react-redux').connect
-const type = 'Simple Key Pair'
 const actions = require('../../actions')
 
 module.exports = connect(mapStateToProps)(PrivateKeyImportView)
@@ -64,6 +63,6 @@ PrivateKeyImportView.prototype.createKeyringOnEnter = function (event) {
 PrivateKeyImportView.prototype.createNewKeychain = function () {
   const input = document.getElementById('private-key-box')
   const privateKey = input.value
-  this.props.dispatch(actions.addNewKeyring(type, [ privateKey ]))
+  this.props.dispatch(actions.importNewAccount('Private Key', [ privateKey ]))
 }
 
diff --git a/ui/app/actions.js b/ui/app/actions.js
index 7934a329a..36efa4bc6 100644
--- a/ui/app/actions.js
+++ b/ui/app/actions.js
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ var actions = {
   createNewVaultAndRestore: createNewVaultAndRestore,
   createNewVaultInProgress: createNewVaultInProgress,
   addNewKeyring,
+  importNewAccount,
   addNewAccount,
   NEW_ACCOUNT_SCREEN: 'NEW_ACCOUNT_SCREEN',
   navigateToNewAccountScreen,
@@ -264,6 +265,21 @@ function addNewKeyring (type, opts) {
   }
 }
 
+function importNewAccount (strategy, args) {
+  return (dispatch) => {
+    dispatch(actions.showLoadingIndication())
+    background.importAccountWithStrategy(strategy, args, (err, newState) => {
+      dispatch(actions.hideLoadingIndication())
+      if (err) return dispatch(actions.displayWarning(err.message))
+      dispatch(actions.updateMetamaskState(newState))
+      dispatch({
+        type: actions.SHOW_ACCOUNT_DETAIL,
+        value: newState.selectedAccount,
+      })
+    })
+  }
+}
+
 function navigateToNewAccountScreen() {
   return {
     type: this.NEW_ACCOUNT_SCREEN,