diff --git a/lib/iris/__init__.py b/lib/iris/__init__.py
index b944f9b22f..70dcaa60de 100644
--- a/lib/iris/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/iris/__init__.py
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ def callback(cube, field, filename):
 class Future(threading.local):
     """Run-time configuration controller."""
 
-    def __init__(self, datum_support=False):
+    def __init__(self, datum_support=False, pandas_ndim=False):
         """
         A container for run-time options controls.
 
@@ -157,6 +157,12 @@ def __init__(self, datum_support=False):
             iris.FUTURE.example_future_flag does not exist. It is provided
             as an example.
 
+        .. todo::
+
+            Document the ``pandas_ndim`` flag once iris#4669 is merged - can
+            add cross-referencing documentation both here and in
+            iris.pandas.as_dataframe().
+
         """
         # The flag 'example_future_flag' is provided as a reference for the
         # structure of this class.
@@ -166,13 +172,14 @@ def __init__(self, datum_support=False):
         #
         # self.__dict__['example_future_flag'] = example_future_flag
         self.__dict__["datum_support"] = datum_support
+        self.__dict__["pandas_ndim"] = pandas_ndim
 
     def __repr__(self):
 
         # msg = ('Future(example_future_flag={})')
         # return msg.format(self.example_future_flag)
-        msg = "Future(datum_support={})"
-        return msg.format(self.datum_support)
+        msg = "Future(datum_support={}, pandas_ndim={})"
+        return msg.format(self.datum_support, self.pandas_ndim)
 
     # deprecated_options = {'example_future_flag': 'warning',}
     deprecated_options = {}