diff --git a/mongoengine/base.py b/mongoengine/base.py
index 9ac35607..99285d6b 100644
--- a/mongoengine/base.py
+++ b/mongoengine/base.py
@@ -344,8 +344,12 @@ class BaseDocument(object):
                 return None
             cls = subclasses[class_name]
 
+        present_fields = data.keys()
+
         for field_name, field in cls._fields.items():
             if field.name in data:
                 data[field_name] = field.to_python(data[field.name])
 
-        return cls(**data)
+        obj = cls(**data)
+        obj._present_fields = present_fields
+        return obj
diff --git a/mongoengine/queryset.py b/mongoengine/queryset.py
index 60f3f8df..f47f5ac0 100644
--- a/mongoengine/queryset.py
+++ b/mongoengine/queryset.py
@@ -112,6 +112,7 @@ class QuerySet(object):
         self._accessed_collection = False
         self._query = {}
         self._where_clauses = []
+        self._field_subset = []
 
         # If inheritance is allowed, only return instances and instances of
         # subclasses of the class being used
@@ -188,7 +189,12 @@ class QuerySet(object):
     @property
     def _cursor(self):
         if not self._cursor_obj:
-            self._cursor_obj = self._collection.find(self._query)
+            query_kwargs = {}
+            if self._field_subset:
+                # load only a subset of fields
+                query_kwargs['fields'] = self._field_subset
+            self._cursor_obj = self._collection.find(self._query, **query_kwargs)
+
             # Apply where clauses to cursor
             for js in self._where_clauses:
                 self._cursor_obj.where(js)
@@ -334,6 +340,14 @@ class QuerySet(object):
         elif isinstance(key, int):
             return self._document._from_son(self._cursor[key])
 
+    def only(self, *fields):
+        """Allow only a subset of fields to be loaded. Invalid fields
+        are silently ignored.
+        """
+        fields = list(fields)
+        self._field_subset = fields
+        return self
+
     def order_by(self, *keys):
         """Order the :class:`~mongoengine.queryset.QuerySet` by the keys. The
         order may be specified by prepending each of the keys by a + or a -.
diff --git a/tests/queryset.py b/tests/queryset.py
index 93dc0747..763da738 100644
--- a/tests/queryset.py
+++ b/tests/queryset.py
@@ -171,6 +171,30 @@ class QuerySetTest(unittest.TestCase):
         
         BlogPost.drop_collection()
 
+    def test_field_subsets(self):
+        """Ensure that a call to ``only`` loads only selected fields.
+        """
+        
+        class DinerReview(Document):
+            title = StringField()
+            abstract = StringField()
+            content = StringField()
+            
+        review = DinerReview(title="Lorraine's Diner")
+        review.abstract = "Dirty dishes, great food."
+        review.content = """
+            Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. 
+            Mauris eu felis risus, eget congue ante. Mauris consectetur 
+            dignissim velit, quis dictum risus tincidunt ac. 
+            Phasellus condimentum imperdiet laoreet.
+        """
+        review.save()
+        
+        review = DinerReview.objects.only("title").first()
+        self.assertEqual(review.content, None)
+        
+        DinerReview.drop_collection()
+
     def test_ordering(self):
         """Ensure default ordering is applied and can be overridden.
         """