diff --git a/scyjava/__init__.py b/scyjava/__init__.py
index 53436634..a3af2937 100644
--- a/scyjava/__init__.py
+++ b/scyjava/__init__.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 import re
 import scyjava.config
 import subprocess
+import threading
 from pathlib import Path
 from jpype.types import *
 from _jpype import _JObject
@@ -223,6 +224,16 @@ def when_jvm_stops(f):
 
 # -- Utility functions --
 
+_thread_locals = threading.local()
+
+def get_local(attr: str) -> Any:
+    if hasattr(_thread_locals, attr):
+        return getattr(_thread_locals, attr)
+    raise AttributeError(f"scyjava has no local {attr}, it must be set using scyjava.set_local()")
+
+def set_local(attr: str, value: Any) -> None:
+    setattr(_thread_locals, attr, value)
+
 def get_version(java_class):
     """Return the version of a Java class. """
     VersionUtils = jimport('org.scijava.util.VersionUtils')
diff --git a/tests/test_locals.py b/tests/test_locals.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4d75be11
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_locals.py
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+from typing import Any
+from scyjava import get_local, set_local
+from threading import Thread
+
+def test_get_local():
+    """Ensures that setting a local in one thread does not set it in another."""
+    attr = 'foo'
+    def assert_local(expected_val: Any, equality: bool) -> bool:
+        try:
+            actual = expected_val == get_local(attr)
+        except AttributeError:
+            actual = False
+        assert actual == equality
+
+    set_local(attr, 1)
+    assert_local(1, True)
+    t: Thread = Thread(target=assert_local, args=[1, False])
+    t.start()
+    t.join()
+
+def test_set_local():
+    """Ensures that setting a local in one thread does not set it in another."""
+    attr = 'foo'
+    def set_local_func(val: Any) -> None:
+        set_local(attr, val)
+    
+    set_local(attr, 1)
+    t: Thread = Thread(target=set_local_func, args=[2])
+    t.start()
+    t.join()
+
+    assert get_local(attr) == 1