diff --git a/lib/factory_girl.rb b/lib/factory_girl.rb
index 1b94904..32a843b 100644
--- a/lib/factory_girl.rb
+++ b/lib/factory_girl.rb
@@ -12,3 +12,5 @@ require 'factory_girl/aliases'
 def Factory (name, attrs = {})
   Factory.create(name, attrs)
 end
+
+Factory.find_definitions
diff --git a/lib/factory_girl/factory.rb b/lib/factory_girl/factory.rb
index ec1795f..d452c9b 100644
--- a/lib/factory_girl/factory.rb
+++ b/lib/factory_girl/factory.rb
@@ -3,6 +3,13 @@ class Factory
   cattr_accessor :factories #:nodoc:
   self.factories = {}
 
+  # An Array of strings specifying locations that should be searched for
+  # factory definitions. By default, factory_girl will attempt to require
+  # "factories," "test/factories," and "spec/factories." Only the first
+  # existing file will be loaded.
+  cattr_accessor :definition_file_paths
+  self.definition_file_paths = %w(factories test/factories spec/factories)
+
   attr_reader :factory_name
 
   # Defines a new factory that can be used by the build strategies (create and
@@ -173,6 +180,16 @@ class Factory
       factory_by_name(name).create(attrs)
     end
 
+    def find_definitions #:nodoc:
+      definition_file_paths.each do |path|
+        begin
+          require(path)
+          break
+        rescue LoadError
+        end
+      end
+    end
+
     private
 
     def factory_by_name (name)
diff --git a/test/factory_test.rb b/test/factory_test.rb
index 32526fe..2214061 100644
--- a/test/factory_test.rb
+++ b/test/factory_test.rb
@@ -415,4 +415,20 @@ class FactoryTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
 
   end
 
+  Factory.definition_file_paths.each do |file|
+    should "automatically load definitions from #{file}.rb" do
+      Factory.stubs(:require).raises(LoadError)
+      Factory.expects(:require).with(file)
+      Factory.find_definitions
+    end
+  end
+
+  should "only load the first set of factories detected" do
+    first, second, third = Factory.definition_file_paths
+    Factory.expects(:require).with(first).raises(LoadError)
+    Factory.expects(:require).with(second)
+    Factory.expects(:require).with(third).never
+    Factory.find_definitions
+  end
+
 end