diff --git a/cached_auth/__init__.py b/cached_auth/__init__.py
index 2043b72..d06df28 100644
--- a/cached_auth/__init__.py
+++ b/cached_auth/__init__.py
@@ -57,6 +57,15 @@ def invalidate_cache(sender, instance, **kwargs):
     cache.delete(key)
 
 
+def set_cached_user(request, user):
+    """ Function to set the cached_user manually """
+    key = CACHE_KEY % request.session[SESSION_KEY]
+    if user_preprocessor:
+        user = user_preprocessor(user, request)
+    cache.set(key, user)
+    request._cached_user = user
+
+
 def get_cached_user(request):
     if not hasattr(request, '_cached_user'):
         try:
@@ -83,5 +92,8 @@ def __init__(self):
             post_delete.connect(invalidate_cache, sender=profile_model)
 
     def process_request(self, request):
-        assert hasattr(request, 'session'), "The Django authentication middleware requires session middleware to be installed. Edit your MIDDLEWARE_CLASSES setting to insert 'django.contrib.sessions.middleware.SessionMiddleware'."
+        assert hasattr(request, 'session'), (
+            "The Django authentication middleware requires session middleware "
+            "to be installed. Edit your MIDDLEWARE_CLASSES setting to insert "
+            "'django.contrib.sessions.middleware.SessionMiddleware'.")
         request.user = SimpleLazyObject(lambda: get_cached_user(request))