diff --git a/README.mkd b/README.mkd
index f7eebc7..2d75fe8 100644
--- a/README.mkd
+++ b/README.mkd
@@ -30,11 +30,17 @@ git clone git://github.com/airblade/vim-gitgutter.git
 
 You don't have to do anything: it just works.
 
-You can also:
+You can explicitly turn vim-gitgutter off and on:
 
-* turn vim-gitgutter off with `:call DisableGitGutter()`
-* turn vim-gitgutter on with `:call EnableGitGutter()`
-* toggle it on/off with `:call ToggleGitGutter()`.
+* turn off with `:call DisableGitGutter()`
+* turn on with `:call EnableGitGutter()`
+* toggle with `:call ToggleGitGutter()`.
+
+And you can turn line highlighting on and off (defaults to off):
+
+* turn on with `:call EnableGitGutterLineHighlights()`
+* turn off with `:call DisableGitGutterLineHighlights()`
+* toggle with `:call ToggleGitGutterLineHighlights()`.
 
 You may want to add mappings for these if you use them often.
 
diff --git a/plugin/gitgutter.vim b/plugin/gitgutter.vim
index e4f607a..230d152 100644
--- a/plugin/gitgutter.vim
+++ b/plugin/gitgutter.vim
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ let s:gitgutter_enabled = 1
 
 function! s:init()
   if !exists('g:gitgutter_initialised')
+    let s:highlight_lines = 0
     call s:define_highlights()
     call s:define_signs()
 
@@ -33,9 +34,15 @@ function! s:define_highlights()
 endfunction
 
 function! s:define_signs()
-  sign define GitGutterLineAdded    text=+ texthl=lineAdded
-  sign define GitGutterLineModified text=~ texthl=lineModified
-  sign define GitGutterLineRemoved  text=_ texthl=lineRemoved
+  if s:highlight_lines
+    sign define GitGutterLineAdded    text=+ texthl=lineAdded    linehl=DiffAdd
+    sign define GitGutterLineModified text=~ texthl=lineModified linehl=DiffChange
+    sign define GitGutterLineRemoved  text=_ texthl=lineRemoved  linehl=DiffDelete
+  else
+    sign define GitGutterLineAdded    text=+ texthl=lineAdded    linehl=NONE
+    sign define GitGutterLineModified text=~ texthl=lineModified linehl=NONE
+    sign define GitGutterLineRemoved  text=_ texthl=lineRemoved  linehl=NONE
+  endif
 endfunction
 
 " }}}
@@ -46,6 +53,12 @@ function! s:is_gitgutter_enabled()
   return s:gitgutter_enabled
 endfunction
 
+function! s:update_line_highlights(highlight_lines)
+  let s:highlight_lines = a:highlight_lines
+  call s:define_signs()
+  redraw!
+endfunction
+
 function! s:current_file()
   return expand("%:p")
 endfunction
@@ -253,6 +266,18 @@ function! ToggleGitGutter()
   endif
 endfunction
 
+function! DisableGitGutterLineHighlights()
+  call s:update_line_highlights(0)
+endfunction
+
+function! EnableGitGutterLineHighlights()
+  call s:update_line_highlights(1)
+endfunction
+
+function! ToggleGitGutterLineHighlights()
+  call s:update_line_highlights(s:highlight_lines ? 0 : 1)
+endfunction
+
 augroup gitgutter
   autocmd!
   autocmd BufReadPost,BufWritePost,FileReadPost,FileWritePost * call GitGutter()