diff --git a/README.mkd b/README.mkd
index cd66f29..e8c7b51 100644
--- a/README.mkd
+++ b/README.mkd
@@ -271,6 +271,14 @@ If you have `grep` aliased to something which changes its output, for example `g
 let g:gitgutter_escape_grep = 1
 ```
 
+#### Use a custom `grep` command
+
+If you use an alternative to grep, you can tell vim-gitgutter to use it here.
+
+```viml
+let g:gitgutter_grep_command = ' | grep --color=never -e "^@@"'
+```
+
 #### To turn off vim-gitgutter by default
 
 Add `let g:gitgutter_enabled = 0` to your `~/.vimrc`.
diff --git a/autoload/gitgutter/diff.vim b/autoload/gitgutter/diff.vim
index 2ff7f5b..7efaaa8 100644
--- a/autoload/gitgutter/diff.vim
+++ b/autoload/gitgutter/diff.vim
@@ -1,11 +1,16 @@
-let s:grep_available = executable('grep')
-if s:grep_available
-  let s:grep_command = ' | '.(g:gitgutter_escape_grep ? '\grep' : 'grep')
-  let s:grep_help = gitgutter#utility#system('grep --help')
-  if s:grep_help =~# '--color'
-    let s:grep_command .= ' --color=never'
+if exists('g:gitgutter_grep_command')
+  let s:grep_available = 1
+  let s:grep_command = g:gitgutter_grep_command
+else
+  let s:grep_available = executable('grep')
+  if s:grep_available
+    let s:grep_command = ' | '.(g:gitgutter_escape_grep ? '\grep' : 'grep')
+    let s:grep_help = gitgutter#utility#system('grep --help')
+    if s:grep_help =~# '--color'
+      let s:grep_command .= ' --color=never'
+    endif
+    let s:grep_command .= ' -e '.gitgutter#utility#shellescape('^@@ ')
   endif
-  let s:grep_command .= ' -e '.gitgutter#utility#shellescape('^@@ ')
 endif
 let s:hunk_re = '^@@ -\(\d\+\),\?\(\d*\) +\(\d\+\),\?\(\d*\) @@'
 
diff --git a/doc/gitgutter.txt b/doc/gitgutter.txt
index b869800..c61ad05 100644
--- a/doc/gitgutter.txt
+++ b/doc/gitgutter.txt
@@ -119,6 +119,7 @@ You can customise:
 - Line highlights
 - Extra arguments for git-diff
 - Key mappings
+- The grep executable used
 - Whether or not to escape grep (defaults to no)
 - Whether or not vim-gitgutter is on initially (defaults to on)
 - Whether or not signs are shown (defaults to yes)
@@ -214,6 +215,11 @@ To change the hunk-staging/reverting/previewing maps (defaults shown):
 
 TO ESCAPE GREP
 
+To use a custom invocation for grep, use this:
+>
+  let g:gitgutter_grep_command = ' | grep --color=never -e "^@@ "'
+<
+
 To avoid any alias you have for grep, use this:
 >
   let g:gitgutter_escape_grep = 1