diff --git a/docs/language/api.rst b/docs/language/api.rst
index bbc2868..5562c1d 100644
--- a/docs/language/api.rst
+++ b/docs/language/api.rst
@@ -639,7 +639,10 @@ doto
 eval
 ----
 
-``eval`` evaluates a quoted expression and returns the value.
+``eval`` evaluates a quoted expression and returns the value. The optional
+second and third arguments specify the dictionary of globals to use and the
+module name. The globals dictionary defaults to ``(local)`` and the module name
+defaults to the name of the current module.
 
 .. code-block:: clj
 
diff --git a/hy/compiler.py b/hy/compiler.py
index 31fba2b..e3429ff 100644
--- a/hy/compiler.py
+++ b/hy/compiler.py
@@ -696,15 +696,22 @@ class HyASTCompiler(object):
                           "`%s' can't be used at the top-level" % expr[0])
 
     @builds("eval")
-    @checkargs(exact=1)
+    @checkargs(min=1, max=3)
     def compile_eval(self, expr):
         expr.pop(0)
 
-        ret = self.compile(HyExpression(
-            [HySymbol("hy_eval")] + expr +
-            [HyExpression([HySymbol("locals")])] +
-            [HyString(self.module_name)]).replace(expr)
-        )
+        elist = [HySymbol("hy_eval")] + [expr[0]]
+        if len(expr) >= 2:
+            elist.append(expr[1])
+        else:
+            elist.append(HyExpression([HySymbol("locals")]))
+
+        if len(expr) == 3:
+            elist.append(expr[2])
+        else:
+            elist.append(HyString(self.module_name))
+
+        ret = self.compile(HyExpression(elist).replace(expr))
 
         ret.add_imports("hy.importer", ["hy_eval"])