diff --git a/lib/shoulda/action_controller/matchers/set_the_flash_matcher.rb b/lib/shoulda/action_controller/matchers/set_the_flash_matcher.rb
index ca53fcc8..a1e33933 100644
--- a/lib/shoulda/action_controller/matchers/set_the_flash_matcher.rb
+++ b/lib/shoulda/action_controller/matchers/set_the_flash_matcher.rb
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ module Shoulda # :nodoc:
       #   it { should set_the_flash }
       #   it { should set_the_flash.to("Thank you for placing this order.") }
       #   it { should set_the_flash.to(/created/i) }
+      #   it { should set_the_flash.to(/logged in/i).now }
       #   it { should_not set_the_flash }
       def set_the_flash
         SetTheFlashMatcher.new
@@ -22,6 +23,11 @@ module Shoulda # :nodoc:
           self
         end
 
+        def now
+          @now = true
+          self
+        end
+
         def matches?(controller)
           @controller = controller
           sets_the_flash? && string_value_matches? && regexp_value_matches?
@@ -60,7 +66,15 @@ module Shoulda # :nodoc:
         end
 
         def flash
-          @controller.send(:flash)
+          flash_and_now = @controller.request.session["flash"]
+          flash         = @controller.send(:flash)
+
+          if @now
+            flash.keys.each {|key| flash_and_now.delete(key) }
+            flash_and_now
+          else
+            flash
+          end
         end
 
         def expectation
diff --git a/test/matchers/controller/set_the_flash_matcher.rb b/test/matchers/controller/set_the_flash_matcher.rb
index 320a722c..4a20485e 100644
--- a/test/matchers/controller/set_the_flash_matcher.rb
+++ b/test/matchers/controller/set_the_flash_matcher.rb
@@ -28,6 +28,36 @@ class SetTheFlashMatcherTest < ActionController::TestCase # :nodoc:
     end
   end
 
+  context "a controller that sets a flash.now message" do
+    setup do
+      @controller = build_response { flash.now[:notice] = 'value' }
+    end
+
+    should "reject setting any flash message" do
+      assert_rejects set_the_flash, @controller
+    end
+
+    should "accept setting any flash.now message" do
+      assert_accepts set_the_flash.now, @controller
+    end
+
+    should "accept setting the exact flash.now message" do
+      assert_accepts set_the_flash.to('value').now, @controller
+    end
+
+    should "accept setting a matched flash.now message" do
+      assert_accepts set_the_flash.to(/value/).now, @controller
+    end
+
+    should "reject setting a different flash.now message" do
+      assert_rejects set_the_flash.to('other').now, @controller
+    end
+
+    should "reject setting a different flash.now pattern" do
+      assert_rejects set_the_flash.to(/other/).now, @controller
+    end
+  end
+
   context "a controller that doesn't set a flash message" do
     setup do
       @controller = build_response