diff --git a/README.mkd b/README.mkd
index bf0d4bf..ff53b60 100644
--- a/README.mkd
+++ b/README.mkd
@@ -55,18 +55,30 @@ You don't have to do anything: it just works.
 
 With one exception the plugin diffs your saved buffers, i.e. the files on disk.  It produces the same result as running `git diff` on the command line.  The exception is realtime updating: in this case the plugin diffs the (unsaved) buffer contents against the version in git.
 
+
+#### Activation
+
 You can explicitly turn vim-gitgutter off and on (defaults to on):
 
 * turn off with `:GitGutterDisable`
 * turn on with `:GitGutterEnable`
 * toggle with `:GitGutterToggle`.
 
+You can turn the signs on and off (defaults to on):
+
+* turn on with `:GitGutterSignsEnable`
+* turn off with `:GitGutterSignsDisable`
+* toggle with `:GitGutterSignsToggle`.
+
 And you can turn line highlighting on and off (defaults to off):
 
 * turn on with `:GitGutterLineHighlightsEnable`
 * turn off with `:GitGutterLineHighlightsDisable`
 * toggle with `:GitGutterLineHighlightsToggle`.
 
+
+#### Hunks
+
 Furthermore you can jump between hunks:
 
 * jump to next hunk (change): `]c`
@@ -177,13 +189,6 @@ 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
 
@@ -228,6 +233,11 @@ let g:gitgutter_escape_grep = 1
 Add `let g:gitgutter_enabled = 0` to your `~/.vimrc`.
 
 
+#### To turn off signs by default
+
+Add `let g:gitgutter_signs = 0` to your `~/.vimrc`.
+
+
 #### To turn on line highlighting by default
 
 Add `let g:gitgutter_highlight_lines = 1` to your `~/.vimrc`.
diff --git a/autoload/highlight.vim b/autoload/highlight.vim
index 682fbcd..fa909e3 100644
--- a/autoload/highlight.vim
+++ b/autoload/highlight.vim
@@ -28,10 +28,8 @@ function! highlight#define_signs()
   sign define GitGutterLineModifiedRemoved
   sign define GitGutterDummy
 
-  if g:gitgutter_signs
-    call highlight#define_sign_symbols()
-    call highlight#define_sign_text_highlights()
-  endif
+  call highlight#define_sign_symbols()
+  call highlight#define_sign_text_highlights()
   call highlight#define_sign_line_highlights()
 endfunction
 
diff --git a/doc/gitgutter.txt b/doc/gitgutter.txt
index c7ed528..fc3938d 100644
--- a/doc/gitgutter.txt
+++ b/doc/gitgutter.txt
@@ -67,6 +67,17 @@ Commands for turning Git Gutter on and off:
   :GitGutterAll                                                 *:GitGutterAll*
       Update signs across all buffers.
 
+Commands for turning signs on and off (defaults to on):
+
+  :GitGutterSignsEnable                                 *:GitGutterSignsEnable*
+      Explicitly turn line signs on.
+
+  :GitGutterSignsDisable                               *:GitGutterSignsDisable*
+      Explicitly turn line signs off.
+
+  :GitGutterSignsToggle                                 *:GitGutterSignsToggle*
+      Explicitly turn line signs on if it was off and vice versa.
+
 Commands for turning line highlighting on and off (defaults to off):
 
   :GitGutterLineHighlightsEnable               *:GitGutterLineHighlightsEnable*
@@ -165,13 +176,6 @@ 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 g:gitgutter_signs = 0
-<
-
 LINE HIGHLIGHTS
 
 Similarly to the signs' colours, set up the following highlight groups in your
@@ -223,6 +227,13 @@ Add to your |vimrc|
   let g:gitgutter_enabled = 0
 <
 
+TO TURN OFF SIGNS BY DEFAULT
+
+Add to your |vimrc|
+>
+  let g:gitgutter_signs = 0
+<
+
 TO TURN ON LINE HIGHLIGHTING BY DEFAULT
 
 Add to your |vimrc|
diff --git a/plugin/gitgutter.vim b/plugin/gitgutter.vim
index da33a4b..68321b4 100644
--- a/plugin/gitgutter.vim
+++ b/plugin/gitgutter.vim
@@ -60,16 +60,18 @@ function! GitGutter(file, realtime)
       let s:hunks        = diff#parse_diff(diff)
       let modified_lines = diff#process_hunks(s:hunks)
 
-      if g:gitgutter_sign_column_always
-        call sign#add_dummy_sign()
-      else
-        if utility#differences(s:hunks)
-          call sign#add_dummy_sign()  " prevent flicker
+      if g:gitgutter_signs
+        if g:gitgutter_sign_column_always
+          call sign#add_dummy_sign()
         else
-          call sign#remove_dummy_sign()
+          if utility#differences(s:hunks)
+            call sign#add_dummy_sign()  " prevent flicker
+          else
+            call sign#remove_dummy_sign()
+          endif
         endif
+        call sign#update_signs(a:file, modified_lines)
       endif
-      call sign#update_signs(a:file, modified_lines)
 
       call utility#save_last_seen_change(a:file)
     endif
@@ -133,6 +135,38 @@ function! GitGutterNextHunk(count)
         if hunk_count == a:count
           execute 'normal!' hunk[2] . 'G'
           break
+" }}}
+
+
+" Signs: enable / disable / toggle {{{
+
+function! GitGutterSignsEnable()
+  let g:gitgutter_signs = 1
+  call GitGutterAll()
+endfunction
+command GitGutterSignsEnable call GitGutterSignsEnable()
+
+function! GitGutterSignsDisable()
+  let g:gitgutter_signs = 0
+  call sign#clear_signs(utility#file())
+  call sign#remove_dummy_sign()
+endfunction
+command GitGutterSignsDisable call GitGutterSignsDisable()
+
+function! GitGutterSignsToggle()
+  if g:gitgutter_signs
+    call GitGutterSignsDisable()
+  else
+    call GitGutterSignsEnable()
+  endif
+endfunction
+command GitGutterSignsToggle call GitGutterSignsToggle()
+
+" }}}
+
+
+" Hunks: jump to next/previous {{{
+
         endif
       endif
     endfor