diff --git a/AUTHORS b/AUTHORS
index a6036395..211a38e0 100644
--- a/AUTHORS
+++ b/AUTHORS
@@ -57,3 +57,4 @@ Neilen Marais
 Rory Geoghegan
 Alexey Diyan
 Kamil Kisiel
+Jonas Lundberg
diff --git a/fabric/task_utils.py b/fabric/task_utils.py
index 5d5f96b8..d658d7f5 100644
--- a/fabric/task_utils.py
+++ b/fabric/task_utils.py
@@ -52,6 +52,9 @@ def merge(hosts, roles, exclude, roledefs):
     role_hosts = []
     for role in roles:
         value = roledefs[role]
+        # Handle dict style roledefs
+        if isinstance(value, dict):
+            value = value['hosts']
         # Handle "lazy" roles (callables)
         if callable(value):
             value = value()
diff --git a/sites/docs/usage/execution.rst b/sites/docs/usage/execution.rst
index b916c191..b79bcf77 100644
--- a/sites/docs/usage/execution.rst
+++ b/sites/docs/usage/execution.rst
@@ -133,11 +133,29 @@ loading other fabfiles which also modify it, of course)::
         'dns': ['ns1', 'ns2']
     }
 
-In addition to list/iterable object types, the values in ``env.roledefs`` may
-be callables, and will thus be called when looked up when tasks are run instead
-of at module load time. (For example, you could connect to remote servers
-to obtain role definitions, and not worry about causing delays at fabfile load
-time when calling e.g. ``fab --list``.)
+Role definitions are not necessary configuration of hosts only, but could hold
+other role specific settings of your choice. This is achieved by defining the
+roles as dicts and host strings under a ``hosts`` key::
+
+    from fabric.api import env
+
+    env.roledefs = {
+        'web': {
+            'hosts': ['www1', 'www2', 'www3'],
+            'foo': 'bar'
+        },
+        'dns': {
+            'hosts': ['ns1', 'ns2'],
+            'foo': 'baz'
+        }
+    }
+
+In addition to list/iterable object types, the values in ``env.roledefs``
+(or value of ``hosts`` key in dict style definition) may be callables, and will
+thus be called when looked up when tasks are run instead of at module load
+time. (For example, you could connect to remote servers to obtain role
+definitions, and not worry about causing delays at fabfile load time when
+calling e.g. ``fab --list``.)
 
 Use of roles is not required in any way -- it's simply a convenience in
 situations where you have common groupings of servers.
diff --git a/sites/www/changelog.rst b/sites/www/changelog.rst
index 4cfa0c9c..1fd5b70b 100644
--- a/sites/www/changelog.rst
+++ b/sites/www/changelog.rst
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 Changelog
 =========
 
+* :feature:`1098` Add support for dict style roledefs.
+  Thanks to Jonas Lundberg, `@lundberg`
 * :release:`1.9.1 <2014-08-06>`
 * :release:`1.8.5 <2014-08-06>`
 * :release:`1.7.5 <2014-08-06>`
diff --git a/tests/test_main.py b/tests/test_main.py
index 97f735d0..e46105ff 100644
--- a/tests/test_main.py
+++ b/tests/test_main.py
@@ -271,6 +271,21 @@ def command():
     eq_hosts(command, ['a', 'b'], env={'roledefs': spaced_roles})
 
 
+dict_roles = {
+    'r1': {'hosts': ['a', 'b']},
+    'r2': ['b', 'c'],
+}
+
+def test_hosts_in_role_dict():
+    """
+    Make sure hosts defined in env.roles are cleaned of extra spaces
+    """
+    @roles('r1')
+    def command():
+        pass
+    eq_hosts(command, ['a', 'b'], env={'roledefs': dict_roles})
+
+
 def test_hosts_decorator_expands_single_iterable():
     """
     @hosts(iterable) should behave like @hosts(*iterable)