diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/OptionT.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/OptionT.scala
index aa3de6150b..88bcab2cc0 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/OptionT.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/OptionT.scala
@@ -93,6 +93,25 @@ final case class OptionT[F[_], A](value: F[Option[A]]) {
 object OptionT extends OptionTInstances {
   def pure[F[_], A](a: A)(implicit F: Applicative[F]): OptionT[F, A] =
     OptionT(F.pure(Some(a)))
+
+  /**
+   * Transforms an `Option` into an `OptionT`, lifted into the specified `Applicative`.
+   *
+   * Note: The return type is a FromOptionAux[F], which has an apply method on it, allowing
+   * you to call fromOption like this:
+   * {{{
+   * val t: Option[Int] = ...
+   * val x: OptionT[List, Int] = fromOption[List](t)
+   * }}}
+   *
+   * The reason for the indirection is to emulate currying type parameters.
+   */
+  def fromOption[F[_]]: FromOptionAux[F] = new FromOptionAux
+
+  class FromOptionAux[F[_]] private[OptionT] {
+    def apply[A](value: Option[A])(implicit F: Applicative[F]): OptionT[F, A] =
+      OptionT(F.pure(value))
+  }
 }
 
 // TODO create prioritized hierarchy for Functor, Monad, etc
diff --git a/tests/shared/src/test/scala/cats/tests/OptionTTests.scala b/tests/shared/src/test/scala/cats/tests/OptionTTests.scala
index af5f130d47..9869d99b54 100644
--- a/tests/shared/src/test/scala/cats/tests/OptionTTests.scala
+++ b/tests/shared/src/test/scala/cats/tests/OptionTTests.scala
@@ -105,6 +105,12 @@ class OptionTTests extends CatsSuite {
     }
   })
 
+  test("fromOption")(check {
+    forAll { (o: Option[Int]) =>
+      List(o) == OptionT.fromOption[List](o).value
+    }
+  })
+
   checkAll("OptionT[List, Int]", MonadTests[OptionT[List, ?]].monad[Int, Int, Int])
   checkAll("MonadOptionT[List, ?]]", SerializableTests.serializable(Monad[OptionT[List, ?]]))
 }