diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index 392441760..1ff39a5ac 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ To update |kitty|, :doc:`follow the instructions <binary>`.
 - Fix a crash/incorrect rendering when detaching a window in some circumstances
   (:iss:`2173`)
 
+- hints kitten: Add an option :option:`kitty +kitten hints --ascending` to
+  control if the hints numbers increase or decrease from top to bottom
+
 
 0.15.0 [2019-11-27]
 --------------------
diff --git a/kittens/hints/main.py b/kittens/hints/main.py
index 6b5490705..9ffc819d7 100644
--- a/kittens/hints/main.py
+++ b/kittens/hints/main.py
@@ -355,7 +355,10 @@ def run(args, text, extra_cli_args=()):
         largest_index = all_marks[-1].index
         offset = max(0, args.hints_offset)
         for m in all_marks:
-            m.index = largest_index - m.index + offset
+            if args.ascending:
+                m.index += offset
+            else:
+                m.index = largest_index - m.index + offset
         index_map = {m.index: m for m in all_marks}
     except Exception:
         import traceback
@@ -451,6 +454,11 @@ unless you specify the hints offset as zero the first match will be highlighted
 the second character you specify.
 
 
+--ascending
+type=bool-set
+Have the hints increase from top to bottom instead of decreasing from top to bottom.
+
+
 --customize-processing
 Name of a python file in the kitty config directory which will be imported to provide
 custom implementations for pattern finding and performing actions