diff --git a/dlib/rand/rand_kernel_1.h b/dlib/rand/rand_kernel_1.h
index e13519144..bb0ca79b5 100644
--- a/dlib/rand/rand_kernel_1.h
+++ b/dlib/rand/rand_kernel_1.h
@@ -36,18 +36,15 @@ namespace dlib
             rand(
             ) 
             {
-                // prime the generator a bit
-                for (int i = 0; i < 10000; ++i)
-                    mt();
+                init();
+            }
 
-                max_val =  0xFFFFFF;
-                max_val *= 0x1000000;
-                max_val += 0xFFFFFF;
-                max_val += 0.01;
-
-
-                has_gaussian = false;
-                next_gaussian = 0;
+            rand (
+                const std::string& seed_value
+            )
+            {
+                init();
+                set_seed(seed_value);
             }
 
             virtual ~rand(
@@ -234,6 +231,23 @@ namespace dlib
             );
 
         private:
+
+            void init()
+            {
+                // prime the generator a bit
+                for (int i = 0; i < 10000; ++i)
+                    mt();
+
+                max_val =  0xFFFFFF;
+                max_val *= 0x1000000;
+                max_val += 0xFFFFFF;
+                max_val += 0.01;
+
+
+                has_gaussian = false;
+                next_gaussian = 0;
+            }
+
             mt19937 mt;
 
             std::string seed;
diff --git a/dlib/rand/rand_kernel_abstract.h b/dlib/rand/rand_kernel_abstract.h
index 8ce2e8ed0..cddee5e86 100644
--- a/dlib/rand/rand_kernel_abstract.h
+++ b/dlib/rand/rand_kernel_abstract.h
@@ -34,6 +34,19 @@ namespace dlib
                     - std::bad_alloc
             !*/
 
+            rand (
+                const std::string& seed_value
+            );
+            /*!
+                ensures 
+                    - #*this is properly initialized
+                    - #get_seed() == seed_value
+                    - This version of the constructor is equivalent to using
+                      the default constructor and then calling set_seed(seed_value)
+                throws
+                    - std::bad_alloc
+            !*/
+
             virtual ~rand(
             ); 
             /*!