diff --git a/README.mkd b/README.mkd
index eeabf21..5dbfb05 100644
--- a/README.mkd
+++ b/README.mkd
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ You can customise:
 * Line highlights
 * Extra arguments for `git diff`
 * Whether or not vim-gitgutter is on initially (defaults to on)
+* Whether or not signs are shown (defaults to yes)
 * Whether or not line highlighting is on initially (defaults to off)
 * Whether or not vim-gitgutter runs on `BufEnter` (defaults to yes)
 * Whether or not vim-gitgutter runs for all buffers on `FocusGained` (defaults to yes)
@@ -124,6 +125,14 @@ let g:gitgutter_sign_removed = 'zz'
 let g:gitgutter_sign_modified_removed = 'ww'
 ```
 
+#### Whether or not signs are shown
+
+If you never want signs to be shown (presumably you only want the line highlights), add this to your `~/.vimrc`:
+
+```viml
+let g:gitgutter_signs = 0
+```
+
 #### Line highlights
 
 Similarly to the signs' colours, set up the following highlight groups in your colorscheme or `~/.vimrc`:
diff --git a/doc/gitgutter.txt b/doc/gitgutter.txt
index 26ac6ef..b787526 100644
--- a/doc/gitgutter.txt
+++ b/doc/gitgutter.txt
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ You can customise:
 - Line highlights
 - Extra arguments for git-diff
 - Whether or not vim-gitgutter is on initially (defaults to on)
+- Whether or not signs are shown (defaults to yes)
 - Whether or not line highlighting is on initially (defaults to off)
 - Whether or not vim-gitgutter runs on `BufEnter` (defaults to yes)
 - Whether or not vim-gitgutter runs for all buffers on `FocusGained` (defaults
@@ -155,6 +156,13 @@ To customise the symbols, add the following to your |vimrc|:
   let g:gitgutter_sign_modified_removed = 'ww'
 <
 
+SIGNS
+
+To never show signs, use this:
+>
+  let git:gitgutter_signs = 0
+<
+
 LINE HIGHLIGHTS
 
 Similarly to the signs' colours, set up the following highlight groups in your
diff --git a/plugin/gitgutter.vim b/plugin/gitgutter.vim
index 9002294..3b1bfb0 100644
--- a/plugin/gitgutter.vim
+++ b/plugin/gitgutter.vim
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ function! s:set(var, default)
 endfunction
 
 call s:set('g:gitgutter_enabled', 1)
+call s:set('g:gitgutter_signs', 1)
 call s:set('g:gitgutter_highlight_lines', 0)
 let s:highlight_lines = g:gitgutter_highlight_lines
 call s:set('g:gitgutter_sign_column_always', 0)
@@ -155,8 +156,10 @@ function! s:define_signs()
   sign define GitGutterLineModifiedRemoved
   sign define GitGutterDummy
 
-  call s:define_sign_symbols()
-  call s:define_sign_text_highlights()
+  if g:gitgutter_signs
+    call s:define_sign_symbols()
+    call s:define_sign_text_highlights()
+  endif
   call s:define_sign_line_highlights()
 endfunction