diff --git a/hspec-meta.cabal b/hspec-meta.cabal
--- a/hspec-meta.cabal
+++ b/hspec-meta.cabal
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 name:             hspec-meta
-version:          1.11.1
+version:          1.11.2
 license:          MIT
 license-file:     LICENSE
 copyright:        (c) 2011-2014 Simon Hengel,
diff --git a/src/Test/Hspec.hs b/src/Test/Hspec.hs
--- a/src/Test/Hspec.hs
+++ b/src/Test/Hspec.hs
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 , pending
 , pendingWith
 , before
+, beforeAll
 , after
 , around
 , parallel
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@
 ) where
 
 import           Control.Exception (finally)
+import           Control.Concurrent.MVar
 
 import           Test.Hspec.Core.Type hiding (describe, it)
 import           Test.Hspec.Runner
@@ -88,6 +90,22 @@
 -- | Run a custom action before every spec item.
 before :: IO () -> Spec -> Spec
 before action = around (action >>)
+
+-- | Run a custom action before all spec items.
+beforeAll :: IO () -> Spec -> Spec
+beforeAll action = fromSpecList . return . BuildSpecs . go
+  where
+    go spec = do
+      mvar <- newMVar Nothing
+      let action_ = memoize mvar action
+      runSpecM $ before action_ spec
+
+memoize :: MVar (Maybe a) -> IO a -> IO a
+memoize mvar action = modifyMVar mvar $ \ma -> case ma of
+  Just a -> return (ma, a)
+  Nothing -> do
+    a <- action
+    return (Just a, a)
 
 -- | Run a custom action after every spec item.
 after :: IO () -> Spec -> Spec