diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 19c063ff..1aff50c3 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -73,6 +73,8 @@ Therefore, we do not recommend using this shortcut.
   - `strict`                When set to `true`, generated function is in strict mode
   - `_with`                 Whether or not to use `with() {}` constructs. If `false`
     then the locals will be stored in the `locals` object. Set to `false` in strict mode.
+  - `destructuredLocals`    An array of local variables that are always destructured from
+    the locals object, available even in strict mode.
   - `localsName`            Name to use for the object storing local variables when not using
     `with` Defaults to `locals`
   - `rmWhitespace`          Remove all safe-to-remove whitespace, including leading
diff --git a/docs/jsdoc/options.jsdoc b/docs/jsdoc/options.jsdoc
index 2edb1d5c..5955ea1e 100644
--- a/docs/jsdoc/options.jsdoc
+++ b/docs/jsdoc/options.jsdoc
@@ -17,6 +17,14 @@
  * whose name is specified by {@link module:ejs.localsName} (default to
  * `locals`).
  *
+ * @property {Boolean} [strict=false]
+ * Whether to run in strict mode or not.
+ * Enforces `_with=false`.
+ *
+ * @property {String[]} [destructuredLocals=[]]
+ * An array of local variables that are always destructured from {@link module:ejs.localsName},
+ * available even in strict mode.
+ *
  * @property {Boolean} [rmWhitespace=false]
  * Remove all safe-to-remove whitespace, including leading and trailing
  * whitespace. It also enables a safer version of `-%>` line slurping for all
diff --git a/lib/ejs.js b/lib/ejs.js
index b011424d..b02a81e9 100755
--- a/lib/ejs.js
+++ b/lib/ejs.js
@@ -526,6 +526,7 @@ function Template(text, opts) {
   options.localsName = opts.localsName || exports.localsName || _DEFAULT_LOCALS_NAME;
   options.views = opts.views;
   options.async = opts.async;
+  options.destructuredLocals = opts.destructuredLocals;
   options.legacyInclude = typeof opts.legacyInclude != 'undefined' ? !!opts.legacyInclude : true;
 
   if (options.strict) {
@@ -575,6 +576,17 @@ Template.prototype = {
       if (opts.outputFunctionName) {
         prepended += '  var ' + opts.outputFunctionName + ' = __append;' + '\n';
       }
+      if (opts.destructuredLocals && opts.destructuredLocals.length) {
+        var destructuring = '  var __locals = (' + opts.localsName + ' || {}),\n';
+        for (var i = 0; i < opts.destructuredLocals.length; i++) {
+          var name = opts.destructuredLocals[i];
+          if (i > 0) {
+            destructuring += ',\n  ';
+          }
+          destructuring += name + ' = __locals.' + name;
+        }
+        prepended += destructuring + ';\n';
+      }
       if (opts._with !== false) {
         prepended +=  '  with (' + opts.localsName + ' || {}) {' + '\n';
         appended += '  }' + '\n';
diff --git a/test/ejs.js b/test/ejs.js
index 5877264e..88edd796 100755
--- a/test/ejs.js
+++ b/test/ejs.js
@@ -124,6 +124,42 @@ suite('ejs.compile(str, options)', function () {
     assert.equal(ejs.render(fixture('strict.ejs'), {}, {strict: true}), 'true');
   });
 
+  test('destructuring works in strict mode as an alternative to `with`', function () {
+    var locals = Object.create(null);
+    locals.foo = 'bar';
+    assert.equal(ejs.render(fixture('strict-destructuring.ejs'), locals, {
+      strict: true,
+      destructuredLocals: Object.keys(locals),
+      _with: true
+    }), locals.foo);
+  });
+
+  test('destructuring works in strict and async mode', function (done) {
+    try {
+      eval('(async function() {})');
+    } catch (e) {
+      if (e instanceof SyntaxError) {
+        done();
+        return;
+      } else {
+        throw e;
+      }
+    }
+
+    var locals = Object.create(null);
+    locals.foo = 'bar';
+    ejs.render(fixture('strict-destructuring.ejs'), locals, {
+      strict: true,
+      async: true,
+      destructuredLocals: Object.keys(locals),
+    }).then(function (value) {
+      assert.equal(value, locals.foo);
+    }).then(
+      () => done(),
+      e => done(e)
+    );
+  });
+
   test('can compile to an async function', function (done) {
     try {
       eval('(async function() {})');
diff --git a/test/fixtures/strict-destructuring.ejs b/test/fixtures/strict-destructuring.ejs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5fd2ae14
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/fixtures/strict-destructuring.ejs
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+<%
+// Unspecified execution context should be `undefined` in strict mode
+var isReallyStrict = !((function () { return this; })());
+-%>
+<%= isReallyStrict && foo -%>