diff --git a/extra/sample_plugin/init.rb b/extra/sample_plugin/init.rb
index 48a5d935c..7389aaa6f 100644
--- a/extra/sample_plugin/init.rb
+++ b/extra/sample_plugin/init.rb
@@ -21,5 +21,5 @@ Redmine::Plugin.register :sample_plugin do
   end
 
   # A new item is added to the project menu
-  menu :project_menu, :label_plugin_example, :controller => 'example', :action => 'say_hello'
+  menu :project_menu, :sample_plugin, { :controller => 'example', :action => 'say_hello' }, :caption => 'Sample'
 end
diff --git a/lib/redmine/menu_manager.rb b/lib/redmine/menu_manager.rb
index 3b29912a1..c645b5ce8 100644
--- a/lib/redmine/menu_manager.rb
+++ b/lib/redmine/menu_manager.rb
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ module Redmine
     
     class MenuItem
       include GLoc
-      attr_reader :name, :url, :param, :condition, :caption, :html_options
+      attr_reader :name, :url, :param, :condition, :html_options
       
       def initialize(name, url, options)
         raise "Invalid option :if for menu item '#{name}'" if options[:if] && !options[:if].respond_to?(:call)
@@ -131,9 +131,14 @@ module Redmine
         @url = url
         @condition = options[:if]
         @param = options[:param] || :id
-        @caption = options[:caption] || (l_has_string?("label_#{name}".to_sym) ? "label_#{name}".to_sym : name.to_s.humanize)
+        @caption_key = options[:caption]
         @html_options = options[:html] || {}
       end
+      
+      def caption
+        # check if localized string exists on first render (after GLoc strings are loaded)
+        @caption ||= (@caption_key || (l_has_string?("label_#{@name}".to_sym) ? "label_#{@name}".to_sym : @name.to_s.humanize))
+      end
     end    
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/redmine/plugin.rb b/lib/redmine/plugin.rb
index e6047974e..36632c13e 100644
--- a/lib/redmine/plugin.rb
+++ b/lib/redmine/plugin.rb
@@ -66,11 +66,12 @@ module Redmine #:nodoc:
 
     # Adds an item to the given +menu+.
     # The +id+ parameter (equals to the project id) is automatically added to the url.
-    #   menu :project_menu, :label_plugin_example, :controller => 'example', :action => 'say_hello'
+    #   menu :project_menu, :plugin_example, { :controller => 'example', :action => 'say_hello' }, :caption => 'Sample'
     #   
-    # Currently, only the project menu can be extended. Thus, the +name+ parameter must be +:project_menu+
-    def menu(name, label, url)
-      Redmine::MenuManager.map(name) {|menu| menu.push label, url}
+    # +name+ parameter can be: :top_menu, :account_menu, :application_menu or :project_menu
+    # 
+    def menu(name, item, url, options={})
+      Redmine::MenuManager.map(name) {|menu| menu.push item, url, options}
     end
 
     # Defines a permission called +name+ for the given +actions+.