diff --git a/src/common.h b/src/common.h
index 100d00cb..159f7124 100644
--- a/src/common.h
+++ b/src/common.h
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 #define IRSSI_GLOBAL_CONFIG "irssi.conf" /* config file name in /etc/ */
 #define IRSSI_HOME_CONFIG "config" /* config file name in ~/.irssi/ */
 
-#define IRSSI_ABI_VERSION 10
+#define IRSSI_ABI_VERSION 11
 
 #define DEFAULT_SERVER_ADD_PORT 6667
 #define DEFAULT_SERVER_ADD_TLS_PORT 6697
diff --git a/src/core/levels.c b/src/core/levels.c
index e623c4de..eb7efcf7 100644
--- a/src/core/levels.c
+++ b/src/core/levels.c
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 #include "module.h"
 #include "levels.h"
 
+/* the order of these levels must match the bits in levels.h */
 static const char *levels[] = {
 	"CRAP",
 	"MSGS",
@@ -44,9 +45,6 @@ static const char *levels[] = {
 	"CLIENTCRAP",
 	"CLIENTERRORS",
 	"HILIGHTS",
-
-	"NOHILIGHT",
-	"NO_ACT",
 	NULL
 };
 
@@ -63,6 +61,9 @@ int level_get(const char *level)
 	if (g_ascii_strcasecmp(level, "NO_ACT") == 0)
 		return MSGLEVEL_NO_ACT;
 
+	if (g_ascii_strcasecmp(level, "HIDDEN") == 0)
+		return MSGLEVEL_HIDDEN;
+
 	len = strlen(level);
 	if (len == 0) return 0;
 
@@ -138,17 +139,13 @@ char *bits2level(int bits)
 
 
 	str = g_string_new(NULL);
-	if (bits & MSGLEVEL_NEVER) {
+	if (bits & MSGLEVEL_NEVER)
 		g_string_append(str, "NEVER ");
-		bits &= ~MSGLEVEL_NEVER;
-	}
 
-	if (bits & MSGLEVEL_NO_ACT) {
+	if (bits & MSGLEVEL_NO_ACT)
 		g_string_append(str, "NO_ACT ");
-		bits &= ~MSGLEVEL_NO_ACT;
-	}
 
-	if (bits == MSGLEVEL_ALL) {
+	if ((bits & MSGLEVEL_ALL) == MSGLEVEL_ALL) {
 		g_string_append(str, "ALL ");
 	} else {
 		for (n = 0; levels[n] != NULL; n++) {
@@ -156,6 +153,10 @@ char *bits2level(int bits)
 				g_string_append_printf(str, "%s ", levels[n]);
 		}
 	}
+
+	if (bits & MSGLEVEL_HIDDEN)
+		g_string_append(str, "HIDDEN ");
+
         if (str->len > 0)
 		g_string_truncate(str, str->len-1);
 
diff --git a/src/core/levels.h b/src/core/levels.h
index 9f7e588f..b0ebafba 100644
--- a/src/core/levels.h
+++ b/src/core/levels.h
@@ -36,7 +36,9 @@ enum {
 	MSGLEVEL_NOHILIGHT    = 0x1000000, /* Don't highlight this message */
 	MSGLEVEL_NO_ACT       = 0x2000000, /* Don't trigger channel activity */
 	MSGLEVEL_NEVER        = 0x4000000, /* never ignore / never log */
-	MSGLEVEL_LASTLOG      = 0x8000000 /* never ignore / never log */
+	MSGLEVEL_LASTLOG      = 0x8000000, /* used for /lastlog */
+
+	MSGLEVEL_HIDDEN       = 0x10000000 /* Hidden from view */
 };
 
 int level_get(const char *level);
diff --git a/src/fe-text/gui-windows.c b/src/fe-text/gui-windows.c
index c63c495c..34c55772 100644
--- a/src/fe-text/gui-windows.c
+++ b/src/fe-text/gui-windows.c
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 #include "misc.h"
 #include "settings.h"
 #include "special-vars.h"
+#include "levels.h"
 
 #include "term.h"
 #include "gui-entry.h"
@@ -50,6 +51,7 @@ static GUI_WINDOW_REC *gui_window_init(WINDOW_REC *window,
 					   !settings_get_bool("indent_always"),
 					   get_default_indent_func());
 	textbuffer_view_set_break_wide(gui->view, settings_get_bool("break_wide"));
+	textbuffer_view_set_hidden_level(gui->view, MSGLEVEL_HIDDEN);
 	if (parent->active == window)
 		textbuffer_view_set_window(gui->view, parent->screen_win);
 	return gui;
@@ -204,6 +206,8 @@ void gui_windows_reset_settings(void)
 		WINDOW_REC *rec = tmp->data;
 		GUI_WINDOW_REC *gui = WINDOW_GUI(rec);
 
+		textbuffer_view_set_hidden_level(gui->view, MSGLEVEL_HIDDEN);
+
 		textbuffer_view_set_break_wide(gui->view, settings_get_bool("break_wide"));
 
 		textbuffer_view_set_default_indent(gui->view,
diff --git a/src/fe-text/mainwindows-layout.c b/src/fe-text/mainwindows-layout.c
index fae02539..acbcb6b9 100644
--- a/src/fe-text/mainwindows-layout.c
+++ b/src/fe-text/mainwindows-layout.c
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 #include "misc.h"
 #include "lib-config/iconfig.h"
 #include "settings.h"
+#include "levels.h"
 
 #include "mainwindows.h"
 #include "gui-windows.h"
@@ -41,6 +42,12 @@ static void sig_layout_window_save(WINDOW_REC *window, CONFIG_NODE *node)
 			iconfig_node_set_int(node, "parent", active->refnum);
 	}
 
+	if (gui->view->hidden_level != MSGLEVEL_HIDDEN) {
+		char *level = bits2level(gui->view->hidden_level);
+		iconfig_node_set_str(node, "hidelevel", level);
+		g_free(level);
+	}
+
 	if (gui->use_scroll)
                 iconfig_node_set_bool(node, "scroll", gui->scroll);
 }
@@ -58,6 +65,9 @@ static void sig_layout_window_restore(WINDOW_REC *window, CONFIG_NODE *node)
 
 	if (config_node_get_bool(node, "sticky", FALSE))
 		gui_window_set_sticky(window);
+
+	textbuffer_view_set_hidden_level(gui->view, level2bits(config_node_get_str(node, "hidelevel", "HIDDEN"), NULL));
+
 	if (config_node_get_str(node, "scroll", NULL) != NULL) {
 		gui->use_scroll = TRUE;
 		gui->scroll = config_node_get_bool(node, "scroll", TRUE);
diff --git a/src/fe-text/module-formats.c b/src/fe-text/module-formats.c
index 899827c2..0cde9946 100644
--- a/src/fe-text/module-formats.c
+++ b/src/fe-text/module-formats.c
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ FORMAT_REC gui_text_formats[] =
 	{ "window_info_scroll", "%#Scroll  : $0", 1, { 0 } },
 	{ "window_scroll", "Window scroll mode is now $0", 1, { 0 } },
 	{ "window_scroll_unknown", "Unknown scroll mode $0, must be ON, OFF or DEFAULT", 1, { 0 } },
+	{ "window_hidelevel", "Window hidden level is now $0", 1, { 0 } },
 
 	/* ---- */
 	{ NULL, "Statusbars", 0 },
diff --git a/src/fe-text/module-formats.h b/src/fe-text/module-formats.h
index 3fa8c511..acc2627c 100644
--- a/src/fe-text/module-formats.h
+++ b/src/fe-text/module-formats.h
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ enum {
         TXT_WINDOW_INFO_SCROLL,
         TXT_WINDOW_SCROLL,
         TXT_WINDOW_SCROLL_UNKNOWN,
+	TXT_WINDOW_HIDELEVEL,
 
 	TXT_FILL_3,
 
diff --git a/src/fe-text/textbuffer-commands.c b/src/fe-text/textbuffer-commands.c
index 648862e7..97d897f3 100644
--- a/src/fe-text/textbuffer-commands.c
+++ b/src/fe-text/textbuffer-commands.c
@@ -89,6 +89,25 @@ static void cmd_window_scroll(const char *data)
 				   gui->scroll : settings_get_bool("scroll"));
 }
 
+/* SYNTAX: WINDOW HIDELEVEL [<level>] */
+static void cmd_window_hidelevel(const char *data)
+{
+	GUI_WINDOW_REC *gui;
+	char *level;
+
+	g_return_if_fail(data != NULL);
+
+	gui = WINDOW_GUI(active_win);
+	textbuffer_view_set_hidden_level(gui->view,
+					 combine_level(gui->view->hidden_level, data));
+	textbuffer_view_redraw(gui->view);
+	level = gui->view->hidden_level == 0 ? g_strdup("NONE") :
+		bits2level(gui->view->hidden_level);
+	printformat_window(active_win, MSGLEVEL_CLIENTNOTICE,
+			   TXT_WINDOW_HIDELEVEL, level);
+	g_free(level);
+}
+
 static void cmd_scrollback(const char *data, SERVER_REC *server,
 			   WI_ITEM_REC *item)
 {
@@ -358,6 +377,7 @@ void textbuffer_commands_init(void)
 {
 	command_bind("clear", NULL, (SIGNAL_FUNC) cmd_clear);
 	command_bind("window scroll", NULL, (SIGNAL_FUNC) cmd_window_scroll);
+	command_bind("window hidelevel", NULL, (SIGNAL_FUNC) cmd_window_hidelevel);
 	command_bind("scrollback", NULL, (SIGNAL_FUNC) cmd_scrollback);
 	command_bind("scrollback clear", NULL, (SIGNAL_FUNC) cmd_scrollback_clear);
 	command_bind("scrollback levelclear", NULL, (SIGNAL_FUNC) cmd_scrollback_levelclear);
@@ -377,6 +397,7 @@ void textbuffer_commands_deinit(void)
 {
 	command_unbind("clear", (SIGNAL_FUNC) cmd_clear);
 	command_unbind("window scroll", (SIGNAL_FUNC) cmd_window_scroll);
+	command_unbind("window hidelevel", (SIGNAL_FUNC) cmd_window_hidelevel);
 	command_unbind("scrollback", (SIGNAL_FUNC) cmd_scrollback);
 	command_unbind("scrollback clear", (SIGNAL_FUNC) cmd_scrollback_clear);
 	command_unbind("scrollback levelclear", (SIGNAL_FUNC) cmd_scrollback_levelclear);
diff --git a/src/fe-text/textbuffer-view.c b/src/fe-text/textbuffer-view.c
index cb066f5e..b54f1c8e 100644
--- a/src/fe-text/textbuffer-view.c
+++ b/src/fe-text/textbuffer-view.c
@@ -41,9 +41,15 @@ static GSList *views;
 #define view_is_bottom(view) \
         ((view)->ypos >= -1 && (view)->ypos < (view)->height)
 
-#define view_get_linecount(view, line) \
+#define view_get_linecount_hidden(view, line) \
         textbuffer_view_get_line_cache(view, line)->count
 
+#define view_line_is_hidden(view, line) \
+	(((line)->info.level & (view)->hidden_level) != 0)
+
+#define view_get_linecount(view, line) \
+	(view_line_is_hidden(view, line) ? 0 : view_get_linecount_hidden(view, line))
+
 static GSList *textbuffer_get_views(TEXT_BUFFER_REC *buffer)
 {
 	GSList *tmp, *list;
@@ -552,6 +558,9 @@ static void textbuffer_view_init_bottom(TEXT_BUFFER_VIEW_REC *view)
 	total = 0;
         line = textbuffer_line_last(view->buffer);
 	for (; line != NULL; line = line->prev) {
+		if (view_line_is_hidden(view, line))
+			continue;
+
 		linecount = view_get_linecount(view, line);
 		if (line == view->bottom_startline) {
 			/* keep the old one, make sure that subline is ok */
@@ -614,6 +623,8 @@ TEXT_BUFFER_VIEW_REC *textbuffer_view_create(TEXT_BUFFER_REC *buffer,
         view->subline = view->bottom_subline;
 	view->bottom = TRUE;
 
+	view->hidden_level = 0;
+
 	textbuffer_view_init_ypos(view);
 
 	view->bookmarks = g_hash_table_new((GHashFunc) g_str_hash,
@@ -726,8 +737,10 @@ static void view_draw(TEXT_BUFFER_VIEW_REC *view, LINE_REC *line,
                 return;
 
 	while (line != NULL && lines > 0) {
-                linecount = view_line_draw(view, line, subline, ypos, lines);
-		ypos += linecount; lines -= linecount;
+		if (!view_line_is_hidden(view, line)) {
+			linecount = view_line_draw(view, line, subline, ypos, lines);
+			ypos += linecount; lines -= linecount;
+		}
 
 		subline = 0;
                 line = line->next;
@@ -768,7 +781,12 @@ static void view_draw_bottom(TEXT_BUFFER_VIEW_REC *view, int lines)
         view_draw(view, line, subline, maxline, lines, TRUE);
 }
 
-/* Returns number of lines actually scrolled */
+/* lines: this pointer is scrolled by scrollcount screen lines
+   subline: this pointer contains the subline position
+   scrollcount: the number of lines to scroll down (negative: up)
+   draw_nonclean: whether to redraw the screen now
+
+   Returns number of lines actually scrolled */
 static int view_scroll(TEXT_BUFFER_VIEW_REC *view, LINE_REC **lines,
 		       int *subline, int scrollcount, int draw_nonclean)
 {
@@ -1027,7 +1045,7 @@ static void view_insert_line(TEXT_BUFFER_VIEW_REC *view, LINE_REC *line)
 			view->bottom = view_is_bottom(view);
 		}
 
-		if (view->window != NULL) {
+		if (view->window != NULL && !view_line_is_hidden(view, line)) {
 			ypos = view->ypos+1 - view_get_linecount(view, line);
 			if (ypos >= 0)
 				subline = 0;
@@ -1042,7 +1060,7 @@ static void view_insert_line(TEXT_BUFFER_VIEW_REC *view, LINE_REC *line)
 		}
 	}
 
-        if (view->window != NULL)
+        if (view->window != NULL && !view_line_is_hidden(view, line))
 		term_refresh(view->window);
 }
 
@@ -1122,6 +1140,12 @@ static int view_get_lines_height(TEXT_BUFFER_VIEW_REC *view,
 	return height < view->height ? height : view->height;
 }
 
+/* line: line to remove
+   linecount: linecount of that line, to be offset when the line was in/below view
+
+   scroll the window maintaining the startline while removing line
+   if startline is removed, make the previous line the new startline
+*/
 static void view_remove_line_update_startline(TEXT_BUFFER_VIEW_REC *view,
 					      LINE_REC *line, int linecount)
 {
@@ -1318,6 +1342,37 @@ LINE_REC *textbuffer_view_get_bookmark(TEXT_BUFFER_VIEW_REC *view,
         return g_hash_table_lookup(view->bookmarks, name);
 }
 
+void textbuffer_view_set_hidden_level(TEXT_BUFFER_VIEW_REC *view, int level)
+{
+	g_return_if_fail(view != NULL);
+
+	if (view->hidden_level != level) {
+		if (view->empty_linecount > 0 && view->startline != NULL) {
+			int old_height, new_height;
+			LINE_REC *hidden_start;
+
+			hidden_start = view->startline;
+			while (hidden_start->prev != NULL && view_line_is_hidden(view, hidden_start->prev)) {
+				hidden_start = hidden_start->prev;
+			}
+
+			old_height = view_get_lines_height(view, hidden_start, view->subline, NULL);
+			view->hidden_level = level;
+			new_height = view_get_lines_height(view, hidden_start, view->subline, NULL);
+
+			view->empty_linecount -= new_height - old_height;
+
+			if (view->empty_linecount < 0)
+				view->empty_linecount = 0;
+			else if (view->empty_linecount > view->height)
+				view->empty_linecount = view->height;
+		} else {
+			view->hidden_level = level;
+		}
+		textbuffer_view_resize(view, view->width, view->height);
+	}
+}
+
 /* Specify window where the changes in view should be drawn,
    NULL disables it. */
 void textbuffer_view_set_window(TEXT_BUFFER_VIEW_REC *view,
diff --git a/src/fe-text/textbuffer-view.h b/src/fe-text/textbuffer-view.h
index 5e7a9d0a..a670df2b 100644
--- a/src/fe-text/textbuffer-view.h
+++ b/src/fe-text/textbuffer-view.h
@@ -49,41 +49,51 @@ typedef struct {
 
 struct _TEXT_BUFFER_VIEW_REC {
 	TEXT_BUFFER_REC *buffer;
-	GSList *siblings; /* other views that use the same buffer */
+	/* other views that use the same buffer */
+	GSList *siblings;
 
         TERM_WINDOW *window;
 	int width, height;
 
 	int default_indent;
         INDENT_FUNC default_indent_func;
-	unsigned int longword_noindent:1;
-	unsigned int scroll:1; /* scroll down automatically when at bottom */
-	unsigned int utf8:1; /* use UTF8 in this view */
-	unsigned int break_wide:1; /* Break wide chars in this view */
 
 	TEXT_BUFFER_CACHE_REC *cache;
-	int ypos; /* cursor position - visible area is 0..height-1 */
+	/* cursor position - visible area is 0..height-1 */
+	int ypos;
 
-	LINE_REC *startline; /* line at the top of the screen */
-	int subline; /* number of "real lines" to skip from `startline' */
+	 /* line at the top of the screen */
+	LINE_REC *startline;
+	/* number of "real lines" to skip from `startline' */
+	int subline;
 
         /* marks the bottom of the text buffer */
 	LINE_REC *bottom_startline;
 	int bottom_subline;
 
+	/* Bookmarks to the lines in the buffer - removed automatically
+	   when the line gets removed from buffer */
+        GHashTable *bookmarks;
+
+	/* these levels should be hidden */
+	int hidden_level;
 	/* how many empty lines are in screen. a screenful when started
 	   or used /CLEAR */
 	int empty_linecount;
+
+	unsigned int longword_noindent:1;
+	/* scroll down automatically when at bottom */
+	unsigned int scroll:1;
+	/* use UTF8 in this view */
+	unsigned int utf8:1;
+	/* Break wide chars in this view */
+	unsigned int break_wide:1;
         /* window is at the bottom of the text buffer */
 	unsigned int bottom:1;
         /* if !bottom - new text has been printed since we were at bottom */
 	unsigned int more_text:1;
         /* Window needs a redraw */
 	unsigned int dirty:1;
-
-	/* Bookmarks to the lines in the buffer - removed automatically
-	   when the line gets removed from buffer */
-        GHashTable *bookmarks;
 };
 
 /* Create new view. */
@@ -143,6 +153,8 @@ void textbuffer_view_set_bookmark_bottom(TEXT_BUFFER_VIEW_REC *view,
 /* Return the line for bookmark */
 LINE_REC *textbuffer_view_get_bookmark(TEXT_BUFFER_VIEW_REC *view,
 				       const char *name);
+/* Set hidden level for view */
+void textbuffer_view_set_hidden_level(TEXT_BUFFER_VIEW_REC *view, int level);
 
 /* Specify window where the changes in view should be drawn,
    NULL disables it. */
diff --git a/src/fe-text/textbuffer.c b/src/fe-text/textbuffer.c
index a920fab2..01cdd118 100644
--- a/src/fe-text/textbuffer.c
+++ b/src/fe-text/textbuffer.c
@@ -230,6 +230,7 @@ LINE_REC *textbuffer_line_last(TEXT_BUFFER_REC *buffer)
 	return buffer->cur_line;
 }
 
+/* returns TRUE if `search' comes on or after `line' in the buffer */
 int textbuffer_line_exists_after(LINE_REC *line, LINE_REC *search)
 {
 	while (line != NULL) {
diff --git a/src/fe-text/textbuffer.h b/src/fe-text/textbuffer.h
index 303789a3..2aa22f1a 100644
--- a/src/fe-text/textbuffer.h
+++ b/src/fe-text/textbuffer.h
@@ -65,10 +65,10 @@ typedef struct {
 	LINE_REC *cur_line;
 	TEXT_CHUNK_REC *cur_text;
 
-	unsigned int last_eol:1;
 	int last_fg;
 	int last_bg;
 	int last_flags;
+	unsigned int last_eol:1;
 } TEXT_BUFFER_REC;
 
 /* Create new buffer */