diff --git a/helix-core/src/state.rs b/helix-core/src/state.rs
index 1b0a67ae..bd14850f 100644
--- a/helix-core/src/state.rs
+++ b/helix-core/src/state.rs
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ pub enum Mode {
     Normal,
     Insert,
     Goto,
+    Command,
 }
 
 /// A state represents the current editor state of a single buffer.
diff --git a/helix-term/src/editor.rs b/helix-term/src/editor.rs
index 3ebe5971..81012156 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/editor.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/editor.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 use clap::ArgMatches as Args;
-use helix_core::{indent::TAB_WIDTH, state::Mode, syntax::HighlightEvent, Range, State};
+use helix_core::{indent::TAB_WIDTH, state::Mode, syntax::HighlightEvent, Position, Range, State};
 use helix_view::{commands, keymap, View};
 
 use std::{
@@ -242,6 +242,7 @@ impl Editor {
                     Mode::Insert => "INS",
                     Mode::Normal => "NOR",
                     Mode::Goto => "GOTO",
+                    Mode::Command => ":",
                 };
                 self.surface.set_style(
                     Rect::new(0, self.size.1 - 1, self.size.0, 1),
@@ -251,35 +252,45 @@ impl Editor {
                 let text_color = Style::default().fg(Color::Rgb(219, 191, 239)); // lilac
                 self.surface
                     .set_string(1, self.size.1 - 1, mode, text_color);
-                if let Some(path) = view.state.path() {
-                    self.surface
-                        .set_string(6, self.size.1 - 1, path.to_string_lossy(), text_color);
-                }
-
-                self.terminal
-                    .backend_mut()
-                    .draw(self.cache.diff(&self.surface).into_iter());
-                // swap the buffer
-                std::mem::swap(&mut self.surface, &mut self.cache);
 
                 // set cursor shape
                 match view.state.mode() {
                     Mode::Insert => write!(stdout, "\x1B[6 q"),
                     Mode::Normal => write!(stdout, "\x1B[2 q"),
                     Mode::Goto => write!(stdout, "\x1B[2 q"),
+                    Mode::Command => write!(stdout, "\x1B[2 q"),
                 };
 
                 // render the cursor
-                let pos = view.state.selection().cursor();
+                let mut pos: Position;
+                if view.state.mode() == Mode::Command {
+                    pos = Position::new(self.size.0 as usize, 2);
+                } else {
+                    if let Some(path) = view.state.path() {
+                        self.surface.set_string(
+                            6,
+                            self.size.1 - 1,
+                            path.to_string_lossy(),
+                            text_color,
+                        );
+                    }
 
-                let pos = view
-                    .screen_coords_at_pos(&view.state.doc().slice(..), pos)
-                    .expect("Cursor is out of bounds.");
+                    let cursor = view.state.selection().cursor();
 
-                execute!(
-                    stdout,
-                    cursor::MoveTo(pos.col as u16 + viewport.x, pos.row as u16 + viewport.y,)
-                );
+                    pos = view
+                        .screen_coords_at_pos(&view.state.doc().slice(..), cursor)
+                        .expect("Cursor is out of bounds.");
+                    pos.col += viewport.x as usize;
+                    pos.row += viewport.y as usize;
+                }
+
+                self.terminal
+                    .backend_mut()
+                    .draw(self.cache.diff(&self.surface).into_iter());
+                // swap the buffer
+                std::mem::swap(&mut self.surface, &mut self.cache);
+
+                execute!(stdout, cursor::MoveTo(pos.col as u16, pos.row as u16));
             }
             None => (),
         }
@@ -357,6 +368,16 @@ impl Editor {
                                     // TODO: simplistic ensure cursor in view for now
                                     view.ensure_cursor_in_view();
 
+                                    self.render();
+                                }
+                            }
+                            Mode::Command => {
+                                // TODO: handle modes and sequences (`gg`)
+                                let keys = vec![event];
+                                if let Some(command) = keymap[&Mode::Goto].get(&keys) {
+                                    // TODO: handle count other than 1
+                                    command(view, 1);
+
                                     self.render();
                                 }
                             }
diff --git a/helix-view/src/commands.rs b/helix-view/src/commands.rs
index 09c6b2fc..0e3f7ce8 100644
--- a/helix-view/src/commands.rs
+++ b/helix-view/src/commands.rs
@@ -304,6 +304,10 @@ pub fn append_mode(view: &mut View, _count: usize) {
     })
 }
 
+pub fn command_mode(view: &mut View, _count: usize) {
+    view.state.mode = Mode::Command;
+}
+
 // TODO: I, A, o and O can share a lot of the primitives.
 
 // calculate line numbers for each selection range
diff --git a/helix-view/src/keymap.rs b/helix-view/src/keymap.rs
index c3a4b8e7..96a37e6b 100644
--- a/helix-view/src/keymap.rs
+++ b/helix-view/src/keymap.rs
@@ -163,6 +163,7 @@ pub fn default() -> Keymaps {
                 vec![key!('p')] => commands::paste,
                 vec![key!('>')] => commands::indent,
                 vec![key!('<')] => commands::unindent,
+                vec![key!(':')] => commands::command_mode,
                 vec![Key {
                     code: KeyCode::Esc,
                     modifiers: Modifiers::NONE
@@ -207,6 +208,12 @@ pub fn default() -> Keymaps {
                 }] => commands::normal_mode as Command,
                 vec![key!('g')] => commands::move_file_start as Command,
                 vec![key!('e')] => commands::move_file_end as Command,
+            ),
+            state::Mode::Command => hashmap!(
+                vec![Key {
+                    code: KeyCode::Esc,
+                    modifiers: Modifiers::NONE
+                }] => commands::normal_mode as Command,
             )
     )
 }