diff --git a/README.mkd b/README.mkd
index 2e72a95..c38ed23 100644
--- a/README.mkd
+++ b/README.mkd
@@ -26,6 +26,13 @@ git clone git://github.com/airblade/vim-gitgutter.git
 ```
 
 
+### Usage
+
+You don't have to do anything: it just works.
+
+You can turn vim-gitgutter off with `:call DisableGitGutter()` and on again with `:call EnableGitGutter()`.  If you do this often I suggest adding mappings for these.
+
+
 ### FAQ
 
 > The colours in the sign column are weird.
diff --git a/plugin/gitgutter.vim b/plugin/gitgutter.vim
index dcb77a3..f30b6d5 100644
--- a/plugin/gitgutter.vim
+++ b/plugin/gitgutter.vim
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ let g:loaded_gitgutter = 1
 
 " Initialisation {{{
 
+let s:gitgutter_enabled = 1
+
 function! s:init()
   if !exists('g:gitgutter_initialised')
     call s:define_highlights()
@@ -40,6 +42,10 @@ endfunction
 
 " Utility {{{
 
+function! s:is_gitgutter_enabled()
+  return s:gitgutter_enabled
+endfunction
+
 function! s:current_file()
   return expand("%:p")
 endfunction
@@ -215,7 +221,7 @@ endfunction
 " Public interface {{{
 
 function! GitGutter()
-  if s:exists_current_file() && s:is_in_a_git_repo() && s:is_tracked_by_git()
+  if s:is_gitgutter_enabled() && s:exists_current_file() && s:is_in_a_git_repo() && s:is_tracked_by_git()
     call s:init()
     let diff = s:run_diff()
     let hunks = s:parse_diff(diff)
@@ -227,6 +233,14 @@ function! GitGutter()
   endif
 endfunction
 
+function! DisableGitGutter()
+  let s:gitgutter_enabled = 0
+endfunction
+
+function! EnableGitGutter()
+  let s:gitgutter_enabled = 1
+endfunction
+
 augroup gitgutter
   autocmd!
   autocmd BufReadPost,BufWritePost,FileReadPost,FileWritePost * call GitGutter()