diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index c5b54272b59c..7118ca4068ea 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -31,9 +31,9 @@ checksum = "cdb031dd78e28731d87d56cc8ffef4a8f36ca26c38fe2de700543e627f8a464a"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "bitflags"
-version = "1.2.1"
+version = "1.3.1"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "cf1de2fe8c75bc145a2f577add951f8134889b4795d47466a54a5c846d691693"
+checksum = "2da1976d75adbe5fbc88130ecd119529cf1cc6a93ae1546d8696ee66f0d21af1"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "bstr"
@@ -313,7 +313,6 @@ dependencies = [
  "arc-swap",
  "etcetera",
  "helix-syntax",
- "log",
  "once_cell",
  "quickcheck",
  "regex",
diff --git a/helix-term/src/ui/editor.rs b/helix-term/src/ui/editor.rs
index 8c46eef900d6..5e1e8f5065a4 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/ui/editor.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/ui/editor.rs
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ use helix_core::{
 };
 use helix_view::{
     document::Mode,
+    editor::LineNumber,
     graphics::{CursorKind, Modifier, Rect, Style},
     info::Info,
     input::KeyEvent,
@@ -71,6 +72,7 @@ impl EditorView {
         theme: &Theme,
         is_focused: bool,
         loader: &syntax::Loader,
+        config: &helix_view::editor::Config,
     ) {
         let area = Rect::new(
             view.area.x + GUTTER_OFFSET,
@@ -93,7 +95,7 @@ impl EditorView {
         };
 
         Self::render_text_highlights(doc, offset, area, surface, theme, highlights);
-        Self::render_gutter(doc, view, area, surface, theme);
+        Self::render_gutter(doc, view, area, surface, theme, config);
 
         if is_focused {
             Self::render_focused_view_elements(view, doc, area, theme, surface);
@@ -459,6 +461,7 @@ impl EditorView {
         viewport: Rect,
         surface: &mut Surface,
         theme: &Theme,
+        config: &helix_view::editor::Config,
     ) {
         let text = doc.text().slice(..);
         let last_line = view.last_line(doc);
@@ -473,6 +476,9 @@ impl EditorView {
         // document or not.  We only draw it if it's not an empty line.
         let draw_last = text.line_to_byte(last_line) < text.len_bytes();
 
+        let current_line = doc
+            .text()
+            .char_to_line(doc.selection(view.id).primary().anchor);
         for (i, line) in (view.first_line..(last_line + 1)).enumerate() {
             use helix_core::diagnostic::Severity;
             if let Some(diagnostic) = doc.diagnostics().iter().find(|d| d.line == line) {
@@ -495,7 +501,13 @@ impl EditorView {
             let line_number_text = if line == last_line && !draw_last {
                 "    ~".into()
             } else {
-                format!("{:>5}", line + 1)
+                match config.line_number {
+                    LineNumber::Absolute => format!("{:>5}", line + 1),
+                    LineNumber::Relative => {
+                        let relative_line = abs_diff(current_line, line);
+                        format!("{:>5}", relative_line)
+                    }
+                }
             };
             surface.set_stringn(
                 viewport.x + 1 - GUTTER_OFFSET,
@@ -1042,6 +1054,7 @@ impl Component for EditorView {
                 &cx.editor.theme,
                 is_focused,
                 loader,
+                &cx.editor.config,
             );
         }
 
@@ -1115,3 +1128,12 @@ fn canonicalize_key(key: &mut KeyEvent) {
         key.modifiers.remove(KeyModifiers::SHIFT)
     }
 }
+
+#[inline]
+fn abs_diff(a: usize, b: usize) -> usize {
+    if a > b {
+        a - b
+    } else {
+        b - a
+    }
+}
diff --git a/helix-view/src/editor.rs b/helix-view/src/editor.rs
index 413b7913fe7c..32f5fe866c0d 100644
--- a/helix-view/src/editor.rs
+++ b/helix-view/src/editor.rs
@@ -33,16 +33,29 @@ pub struct Config {
     pub scroll_lines: isize,
     /// Mouse support. Defaults to true.
     pub mouse: bool,
+    /// Line number mode.
+    pub line_number: LineNumber,
     /// Middle click paste support. Defaults to true
     pub middle_click_paste: bool,
 }
 
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "kebab-case")]
+pub enum LineNumber {
+    /// Show absolute line number
+    Absolute,
+
+    /// Show relative line number to the primary cursor
+    Relative,
+}
+
 impl Default for Config {
     fn default() -> Self {
         Self {
             scrolloff: 5,
             scroll_lines: 3,
             mouse: true,
+            line_number: LineNumber::Absolute,
             middle_click_paste: true,
         }
     }