diff --git a/haystack/indexes.py b/haystack/indexes.py
index 0fc5cd9..441d16d 100644
--- a/haystack/indexes.py
+++ b/haystack/indexes.py
@@ -62,18 +62,6 @@ class SearchIndex(object):
         if not len(content_fields) == 1:
             raise SearchFieldError("An index must have one (and only one) SearchField with document=True.")

-    def _setup_save(self, model):
-        signals.post_save.connect(self.update_object, sender=model)
-
-    def _setup_delete(self, model):
-        signals.post_delete.connect(self.remove_object, sender=model)
-
-    def _teardown_save(self, model):
-        signals.post_save.disconnect(self.update_object, sender=model)
-
-    def _teardown_delete(self, model):
-        signals.post_delete.disconnect(self.remove_object, sender=model)
-
     def get_queryset(self):
         """
         Get the default QuerySet to index when doing a full update.
@@ -175,7 +163,25 @@ class SearchIndex(object):
         return self.model._default_manager.all()


-class BasicSearchIndex(SearchIndex):
+class SignalOnChange(object):
+    """
+    Signals that can be attached to an index to allow automatic reindexing
+    on save and delete
+    """
+    def _setup_save(self, model):
+        signals.post_save.connect(self.update_object, sender=model)
+
+    def _setup_delete(self, model):
+        signals.post_delete.connect(self.remove_object, sender=model)
+
+    def _teardown_save(self, model):
+        signals.post_save.disconnect(self.update_object, sender=model)
+
+    def _teardown_delete(self, model):
+        signals.post_delete.disconnect(self.remove_object, sender=model)
+
+
+class BasicSearchIndex(SearchIndex, SignalOnChange):
     text = CharField(document=True, use_template=True)


diff --git a/tests/solr_tests/tests/solr_backend.py b/tests/solr_tests/tests/solr_backend.py
index fd6e009..1acfb42 100644
--- a/tests/solr_tests/tests/solr_backend.py
+++ b/tests/solr_tests/tests/solr_backend.py
@@ -15,13 +15,13 @@ except NameError:
     from sets import Set as set


-class SolrMockSearchIndex(indexes.SearchIndex):
+class SolrMockSearchIndex(indexes.SearchIndex, indexes.SignalOnChange):
     text = indexes.CharField(document=True, use_template=True)
     name = indexes.CharField(model_attr='author')
     pub_date = indexes.DateField(model_attr='pub_date')


-class SolrMaintainTypeMockSearchIndex(indexes.SearchIndex):
+class SolrMaintainTypeMockSearchIndex(indexes.SearchIndex, indexes.SignalOnChange):
     text = indexes.CharField(document=True, use_template=True)
     month = indexes.CharField(indexed=False)
     pub_date = indexes.DateField(model_attr='pub_date')
diff --git a/tests/whoosh_tests/tests/whoosh_backend.py b/tests/whoosh_tests/tests/whoosh_backend.py
index b426e67..c893fe6 100644
--- a/tests/whoosh_tests/tests/whoosh_backend.py
+++ b/tests/whoosh_tests/tests/whoosh_backend.py
@@ -18,13 +18,13 @@ except NameError:
     from sets import Set as set


-class WhooshMockSearchIndex(indexes.SearchIndex):
+class WhooshMockSearchIndex(indexes.SearchIndex, indexes.SignalOnChange):
     text = indexes.CharField(document=True, use_template=True)
     name = indexes.CharField(model_attr='author')
     pub_date = indexes.DateField(model_attr='pub_date')


-class AllTypesWhooshMockSearchIndex(indexes.SearchIndex):
+class AllTypesWhooshMockSearchIndex(indexes.SearchIndex, indexes.SignalOnChange):
     text = indexes.CharField(document=True, use_template=True)
     name = indexes.CharField(model_attr='author', indexed=False)
     pub_date = indexes.DateField(model_attr='pub_date')
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ class AllTypesWhooshMockSearchIndex(indexes.SearchIndex):
     seen_count = indexes.IntegerField(indexed=False)


-class WhooshMaintainTypeMockSearchIndex(indexes.SearchIndex):
+class WhooshMaintainTypeMockSearchIndex(indexes.SearchIndex, indexes.SignalOnChange):
     text = indexes.CharField(document=True, use_template=True)
     month = indexes.CharField(indexed=False)
     pub_date = indexes.DateField(model_attr='pub_date')