diff --git a/modules/system.rules.inc b/modules/system.rules.inc
index fcd4f80..0bbc498 100644
--- a/modules/system.rules.inc
+++ b/modules/system.rules.inc
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ function _rules_system_watchdog_log_entry_info() {
  * Implements hook_rules_action_info() on behalf of the system module.
  */
 function rules_system_action_info() {
-  return array(
+  $actions = array(
     'drupal_message' => array(
       'label' => t('Show a message on the site'),
       'group' => t('System'),
@@ -243,6 +243,55 @@ function rules_system_action_info() {
       'access callback' => 'rules_system_integration_access',
     ),
   );
+  foreach (array('text', 'array', 'object', 'unknown') as $type) {
+    $actions["get_system_{$type}_variable"] = array(
+      'label' => t("Get system variable of type '!type'", array('!type' => $type)),
+      'group' => t('System'),
+      'parameter' => array(
+        'variable' => array(
+          'type' => 'text',
+          'label' => t('Variable'),
+          'description' => t('Select the variable name'),
+        ),
+      ),
+      'base' => "rules_get_system_{$type}_variable",
+      'provides' => array(
+        'variable_added' => array(
+          'type' => $type,
+          'label' => t('Added variable'),
+        ),
+      ),
+    );
+  }
+  return $actions;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Fetch variable of type text.
+ */
+function rules_get_system_text_variable($variable) {
+  return array('variable_added' => (string) variable_get($variable));
+}
+
+/**
+ * Fetch variable of type array.
+ */
+function rules_get_system_array_variable($variable) {
+  return array('variable_added' => (array) variable_get($variable));
+}
+
+/**
+ * Fetch variable of type object.
+ */
+function rules_get_system_object_variable($variable) {
+  return array('variable_added' => (object) variable_get($variable));
+}
+
+/**
+ * Fetch variable of unknown type.
+ */
+function rules_get_system_unknown_variable($variable) {
+  return array('variable_added' => variable_get($variable));
 }
 
 /**