diff --git a/vault/logical_system.go b/vault/logical_system.go
index 43af47423..5cbfccc00 100644
--- a/vault/logical_system.go
+++ b/vault/logical_system.go
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ func NewSystemBackend(core *Core) logical.Backend {
 				"audit",
 				"audit/*",
 				"seal", // Must be set for Core.Seal() logic
+				"raw/*",
 			},
 		},
 
@@ -260,6 +261,25 @@ func NewSystemBackend(core *Core) logical.Backend {
 				HelpSynopsis:    strings.TrimSpace(sysHelp["audit"][0]),
 				HelpDescription: strings.TrimSpace(sysHelp["audit"][1]),
 			},
+
+			&framework.Path{
+				Pattern: "raw/(?P<path>.+)",
+
+				Fields: map[string]*framework.FieldSchema{
+					"path": &framework.FieldSchema{
+						Type: framework.TypeString,
+					},
+					"value": &framework.FieldSchema{
+						Type: framework.TypeString,
+					},
+				},
+
+				Callbacks: map[logical.Operation]framework.OperationFunc{
+					logical.ReadOperation:   b.handleRawRead,
+					logical.WriteOperation:  b.handleRawWrite,
+					logical.DeleteOperation: b.handleRawDelete,
+				},
+			},
 		},
 	}
 }
@@ -597,6 +617,50 @@ func (b *SystemBackend) handleDisableAudit(
 	return nil, nil
 }
 
+// handleRawRead is used to read directly from the barrier
+func (b *SystemBackend) handleRawRead(
+	req *logical.Request, data *framework.FieldData) (*logical.Response, error) {
+	path := data.Get("path").(string)
+	entry, err := b.Core.barrier.Get(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return logical.ErrorResponse(err.Error()), logical.ErrInvalidRequest
+	}
+	if entry == nil {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+	resp := &logical.Response{
+		Data: map[string]interface{}{
+			"value": string(entry.Value),
+		},
+	}
+	return resp, nil
+}
+
+// handleRawWrite is used to write directly to the barrier
+func (b *SystemBackend) handleRawWrite(
+	req *logical.Request, data *framework.FieldData) (*logical.Response, error) {
+	path := data.Get("path").(string)
+	value := data.Get("value").(string)
+	entry := &Entry{
+		Key:   path,
+		Value: []byte(value),
+	}
+	if err := b.Core.barrier.Put(entry); err != nil {
+		return logical.ErrorResponse(err.Error()), logical.ErrInvalidRequest
+	}
+	return nil, nil
+}
+
+// handleRawDelete is used to delete directly from the barrier
+func (b *SystemBackend) handleRawDelete(
+	req *logical.Request, data *framework.FieldData) (*logical.Response, error) {
+	path := data.Get("path").(string)
+	if err := b.Core.barrier.Delete(path); err != nil {
+		return logical.ErrorResponse(err.Error()), logical.ErrInvalidRequest
+	}
+	return nil, nil
+}
+
 // sysHelp is all the help text for the sys backend.
 var sysHelp = map[string][2]string{
 	"mounts": {
diff --git a/vault/logical_system_test.go b/vault/logical_system_test.go
index c0de5b167..9ee4b2c56 100644
--- a/vault/logical_system_test.go
+++ b/vault/logical_system_test.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ func TestSystemBackend_RootPaths(t *testing.T) {
 		"audit",
 		"audit/*",
 		"seal",
+		"raw/*",
 	}
 
 	b := testSystemBackend(t)
@@ -601,6 +602,75 @@ func TestSystemBackend_disableAudit_invalid(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestSystemBackend_rawRead(t *testing.T) {
+	b := testSystemBackend(t)
+
+	req := logical.TestRequest(t, logical.ReadOperation, "raw/"+coreMountConfigPath)
+	resp, err := b.HandleRequest(req)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("err: %v", err)
+	}
+	if resp.Data["value"].(string)[0] != '{' {
+		t.Fatalf("bad: %v", resp)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSystemBackend_rawWrite(t *testing.T) {
+	c, b, _ := testCoreSystemBackend(t)
+
+	req := logical.TestRequest(t, logical.WriteOperation, "raw/sys/policy/test")
+	req.Data["value"] = `path "secret/" { policy = "read" }`
+	resp, err := b.HandleRequest(req)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("err: %v", err)
+	}
+	if resp != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("bad: %v", resp)
+	}
+
+	// Read the policy!
+	p, err := c.policy.GetPolicy("test")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("err: %v", err)
+	}
+	if p == nil || len(p.Paths) == 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("missing policy %#v", p)
+	}
+	if p.Paths[0].Prefix != "secret/" || p.Paths[0].Policy != PathPolicyRead {
+		t.Fatalf("Bad: %#v", p)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSystemBackend_rawDelete(t *testing.T) {
+	c, b, _ := testCoreSystemBackend(t)
+
+	// set the policy!
+	p := &Policy{Name: "test"}
+	err := c.policy.SetPolicy(p)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("err: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// Delete the policy
+	req := logical.TestRequest(t, logical.DeleteOperation, "raw/sys/policy/test")
+	resp, err := b.HandleRequest(req)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("err: %v", err)
+	}
+	if resp != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("bad: %v", resp)
+	}
+
+	// Policy should be gone
+	out, err := c.policy.GetPolicy("test")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("err: %v", err)
+	}
+	if out != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("policy should be gone")
+	}
+}
+
 func testSystemBackend(t *testing.T) logical.Backend {
 	c, _, _ := TestCoreUnsealed(t)
 	return NewSystemBackend(c)