diff --git a/kitty/config.py b/kitty/config.py
index 91c27c775..65b3e99c9 100644
--- a/kitty/config.py
+++ b/kitty/config.py
@@ -241,6 +241,47 @@ def disable_ligatures_in(func, rest):
     return func, [where, strategy]
 
 
+@func_with_args('add_marker')
+def add_marker(func, rest):
+    parts = rest.split(maxsplit=1)
+    if len(parts) != 2:
+        raise ValueError('{} if not a valid marker specification'.format(rest))
+    name = parts[0]
+    parts = parts[1].split(':', maxsplit=1)
+    if len(parts) != 2:
+        raise ValueError('{} if not a valid marker specification'.format(rest))
+    ftype, spec = parts
+    color = None
+    if ftype in ('text', 'itext', 'regex'):
+        flags = re.UNICODE
+        parts = spec.split(':', maxsplit=1)
+        if len(parts) != 2:
+            raise ValueError('No color specified in marker: {}'.format(spec))
+        try:
+            color = int(parts[0])
+        except Exception:
+            raise ValueError('color {} in marker specification is not an integer'.format(parts[0]))
+        spec = parts[1]
+        if ftype in ('text', 'itext'):
+            spec = re.escape(spec)
+            flags |= re.IGNORECASE
+            ftype = 'regex'
+        try:
+            spec = re.compile(spec, flgas=flags)
+        except Exception:
+            raise ValueError('{} is not a valid regular expression'.format(spec))
+    elif ftype == 'function':
+        pass
+    else:
+        raise ValueError('Unknown marker type: {}'.format(ftype))
+    return func, [name, ftype, spec, color]
+
+
+@func_with_args('remove_marker')
+def remove_marker(func, rest):
+    return func, [rest]
+
+
 def parse_key_action(action):
     parts = action.strip().split(maxsplit=1)
     func = parts[0]
diff --git a/kitty/marks.py b/kitty/marks.py
index 168c37481..9bac90628 100644
--- a/kitty/marks.py
+++ b/kitty/marks.py
@@ -23,7 +23,10 @@ def get_output_variables(left_address, right_address, color_address):
 
 def marker_from_regex(expression, color):
     color = max(1, min(color, 3))
-    pat = re.compile(expression)
+    if isinstance(expression, str):
+        pat = re.compile(expression)
+    else:
+        pat = expression
 
     def marker(text, left_address, right_address, color_address):
         left, right, colorv = get_output_variables(left_address, right_address, color_address)
diff --git a/kitty/window.py b/kitty/window.py
index bfaeaa70a..6e81380ac 100644
--- a/kitty/window.py
+++ b/kitty/window.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ from itertools import chain
 
 from .config import build_ansi_color_table
 from .constants import (
-    ScreenGeometry, WindowGeometry, appname, get_boss, wakeup
+    ScreenGeometry, WindowGeometry, appname, get_boss, wakeup, config_dir
 )
 from .fast_data_types import (
     BLIT_PROGRAM, CELL_BG_PROGRAM, CELL_FG_PROGRAM, CELL_PROGRAM,
@@ -603,4 +603,21 @@ class Window:
     def scroll_end(self):
         if self.screen.is_main_linebuf():
             self.screen.scroll(SCROLL_FULL, False)
+
+    def add_marker(self, name, ftype, spec, color):
+        from .marks import marker_from_regex, marker_from_function
+        if ftype == 'regex':
+            marker = marker_from_regex(spec, color)
+        elif ftype == 'function':
+            import runpy
+            path = spec
+            if not os.path.isabs(path):
+                path = os.path.join(config_dir, path)
+            marker = marker_from_function(runpy.run_path(path, run_name='__marker__').marker)
+        else:
+            raise ValueError('Unknown marker type: {}'.format(ftype))
+        self.screen.add_marker(name, marker)
+
+    def remove_marker(self, name):
+        self.screen.remove_marker(name)
     # }}}