diff --git a/commands/msg/read.go b/commands/msg/read.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9844797
--- /dev/null
+++ b/commands/msg/read.go
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+package msg
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/gdamore/tcell"
+
+	"git.sr.ht/~sircmpwn/aerc/widgets"
+	"git.sr.ht/~sircmpwn/aerc/worker/types"
+)
+
+func init() {
+	register("read", Read)
+	register("unread", Read)
+}
+
+func Read(aerc *widgets.Aerc, args []string) error {
+	if len(args) != 1 {
+		return errors.New("Usage: " + args[0])
+	}
+
+	widget := aerc.SelectedTab().(widgets.ProvidesMessage)
+	msg := widget.SelectedMessage()
+	store := widget.Store()
+	store.Read([]uint32{msg.Uid}, args[0] == "read", func(
+		msg types.WorkerMessage) {
+
+		switch msg := msg.(type) {
+		case *types.Done:
+			aerc.PushStatus("Messages updated.", 10*time.Second)
+		case *types.Error:
+			aerc.PushStatus(" "+msg.Error.Error(), 10*time.Second).
+				Color(tcell.ColorDefault, tcell.ColorRed)
+		}
+	})
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/lib/msgstore.go b/lib/msgstore.go
index 56725e3..5b4d540 100644
--- a/lib/msgstore.go
+++ b/lib/msgstore.go
@@ -265,3 +265,17 @@ func (store *MessageStore) Move(uids []uint32, dest string, createDest bool,
 
 	store.update()
 }
+
+func (store *MessageStore) Read(uids []uint32, read bool,
+	cb func(msg types.WorkerMessage)) {
+
+	var set imap.SeqSet
+	for _, uid := range uids {
+		set.AddNum(uid)
+	}
+
+	store.worker.PostAction(&types.ReadMessages{
+		Read: read,
+		Uids: set,
+	}, cb)
+}
diff --git a/worker/imap/flags.go b/worker/imap/flags.go
index bd368c1..0122d8e 100644
--- a/worker/imap/flags.go
+++ b/worker/imap/flags.go
@@ -41,3 +41,20 @@ func (imapw *IMAPWorker) handleDeleteMessages(msg *types.DeleteMessages) {
 		imapw.worker.PostMessage(&types.Done{types.RespondTo(msg)}, nil)
 	}
 }
+
+func (imapw *IMAPWorker) handleReadMessages(msg *types.ReadMessages) {
+	item := imap.FormatFlagsOp(imap.AddFlags, true)
+	flags := []interface{}{imap.SeenFlag}
+	if !msg.Read {
+		item = imap.FormatFlagsOp(imap.RemoveFlags, true)
+		flags = []interface{}{imap.SeenFlag}
+	}
+	if err := imapw.client.UidStore(&msg.Uids, item, flags, nil); err != nil {
+		imapw.worker.PostMessage(&types.Error{
+			Message: types.RespondTo(msg),
+			Error:   err,
+		}, nil)
+		return
+	}
+	imapw.worker.PostMessage(&types.Done{types.RespondTo(msg)}, nil)
+}
diff --git a/worker/imap/worker.go b/worker/imap/worker.go
index 373072b..d978755 100644
--- a/worker/imap/worker.go
+++ b/worker/imap/worker.go
@@ -137,6 +137,8 @@ func (w *IMAPWorker) handleMessage(msg types.WorkerMessage) error {
 		w.handleFetchFullMessages(msg)
 	case *types.DeleteMessages:
 		w.handleDeleteMessages(msg)
+	case *types.ReadMessages:
+		w.handleReadMessages(msg)
 	case *types.CopyMessages:
 		w.handleCopyMessages(msg)
 	case *types.AppendMessage:
diff --git a/worker/types/messages.go b/worker/types/messages.go
index 0d81c4f..fa4b4e4 100644
--- a/worker/types/messages.go
+++ b/worker/types/messages.go
@@ -108,6 +108,13 @@ type DeleteMessages struct {
 	Uids imap.SeqSet
 }
 
+// Marks messages as read or unread
+type ReadMessages struct {
+	Message
+	Read bool
+	Uids imap.SeqSet
+}
+
 type CopyMessages struct {
 	Message
 	Destination string