diff --git a/autoload/airline/themes/minimalist.vim b/autoload/airline/themes/minimalist.vim
index 6eeb276..61bad1e 100644
--- a/autoload/airline/themes/minimalist.vim
+++ b/autoload/airline/themes/minimalist.vim
@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@
 
 let s:theme = 'minimalist'
 
+" To highlight when the buffer is modified:
+"     let g:airline_minimalist_showmod = 1
+let s:want_showmod = get(g:, 'airline_minimalist_showmod', 0)
+
 function! airline#themes#{s:theme}#refresh()
     if &background == "dark"
         " Normal
@@ -54,6 +58,10 @@ function! airline#themes#{s:theme}#refresh()
 
     let palette.inactive = airline#themes#generate_color_map(IA, IA, IA)
 
+    if s:want_showmod
+        let palette.normal_modified = { 'airline_a': NR, 'airline_z': NR }
+    endif
+
     " Accents
     let palette.accents = {
                 \ 'red': [ ER[1], '', ER[3], '' ]
diff --git a/doc/airline-themes.txt b/doc/airline-themes.txt
index 7dac95f..6aba1e7 100644
--- a/doc/airline-themes.txt
+++ b/doc/airline-themes.txt
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ Currently this repository contains the following themes:
     * light
     * lucius
     * luna
-    * minimalist
+    * minimalist (|airline-theme-minimalist|)
     * molokai
     * monochrome
     * murmur
@@ -196,6 +196,13 @@ setup once. However, it won't change colors if e.g. the mode changes.
 Set to 256 for 256-color mode (the default), or 16 for 16-color mode.
 Has no effect if using true/24-bit color. To enable 16-color mode: >
     let g:deus_termcolors = 16
+
+*airline-theme-minimalist*
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+                                             *g:airline_minimalist_showmod*
+
+Highlight when the buffer is modified.
+    let g:airline_minimalist_showmod = 1
 <
 *airline-theme-onedark*
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------