diff --git a/commands/account/view.go b/commands/account/view.go
index be8b45e..f30ac61 100644
--- a/commands/account/view.go
+++ b/commands/account/view.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 
 	"git.sr.ht/~rjarry/aerc/lib"
 	"git.sr.ht/~rjarry/aerc/widgets"
+	"git.sr.ht/~sircmpwn/getopt"
 )
 
 type ViewMessage struct{}
@@ -22,8 +23,20 @@ func (ViewMessage) Complete(aerc *widgets.Aerc, args []string) []string {
 }
 
 func (ViewMessage) Execute(aerc *widgets.Aerc, args []string) error {
-	if len(args) != 1 {
-		return errors.New("Usage: view-message")
+	peek := false
+	opts, optind, err := getopt.Getopts(args, "p")
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	for _, opt := range opts {
+		if opt.Option == 'p' {
+			peek = true
+		}
+	}
+
+	if len(args) != optind {
+		return errors.New("Usage: view-message [-p]")
 	}
 	acct := aerc.SelectedAccount()
 	if acct == nil {
@@ -45,7 +58,7 @@ func (ViewMessage) Execute(aerc *widgets.Aerc, args []string) error {
 		aerc.PushError(msg.Error.Error())
 		return nil
 	}
-	lib.NewMessageStoreView(msg, acct.UiConfig().AutoMarkRead,
+	lib.NewMessageStoreView(msg, !peek && acct.UiConfig().AutoMarkRead,
 		store, aerc.Crypto, aerc.DecryptKeys,
 		func(view lib.MessageView, err error) {
 			if err != nil {
diff --git a/commands/msg/archive.go b/commands/msg/archive.go
index 2935991..d485fd3 100644
--- a/commands/msg/archive.go
+++ b/commands/msg/archive.go
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ func (Archive) Execute(aerc *widgets.Aerc, args []string) error {
 						acct.Messages().Invalidate()
 						return
 					}
-					lib.NewMessageStoreView(next, acct.UiConfig().AutoMarkRead,
+					lib.NewMessageStoreView(next, mv.MessageView().SeenFlagSet(),
 						store, aerc.Crypto, aerc.DecryptKeys,
 						func(view lib.MessageView, err error) {
 							if err != nil {
diff --git a/commands/msg/delete.go b/commands/msg/delete.go
index 57cef34..a3d024a 100644
--- a/commands/msg/delete.go
+++ b/commands/msg/delete.go
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ func (Delete) Execute(aerc *widgets.Aerc, args []string) error {
 						acct.Messages().Invalidate()
 						return
 					}
-					lib.NewMessageStoreView(next, acct.UiConfig().AutoMarkRead,
+					lib.NewMessageStoreView(next, mv.MessageView().SeenFlagSet(),
 						store, aerc.Crypto, aerc.DecryptKeys,
 						func(view lib.MessageView, err error) {
 							if err != nil {
diff --git a/commands/msgview/next.go b/commands/msgview/next.go
index b9e5dbd..6341f93 100644
--- a/commands/msgview/next.go
+++ b/commands/msgview/next.go
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ func (NextPrevMsg) Execute(aerc *widgets.Aerc, args []string) error {
 		aerc.RemoveTab(mv)
 		return nil
 	}
-	lib.NewMessageStoreView(nextMsg, acct.UiConfig().AutoMarkRead,
+	lib.NewMessageStoreView(nextMsg, mv.MessageView().SeenFlagSet(),
 		store, aerc.Crypto, aerc.DecryptKeys,
 		func(view lib.MessageView, err error) {
 			if err != nil {
diff --git a/doc/aerc.1.scd b/doc/aerc.1.scd
index 355a08d..5898f21 100644
--- a/doc/aerc.1.scd
+++ b/doc/aerc.1.scd
@@ -374,8 +374,10 @@ message list, the message in the message viewer, etc).
 *toggle-threads*
 	Toggles between message threading and the normal message list.
 
-*view*
-	Opens the message viewer to display the selected message.
+*view* [-p]
+	Opens the message viewer to display the selected message. If the peek
+	flag -p is set, the message will not be marked as "seen" and ignores the
+	"auto-mark-read" config.
 
 ## MESSAGE VIEW COMMANDS
 
diff --git a/lib/messageview.go b/lib/messageview.go
index d774f4f..e4f9cbe 100644
--- a/lib/messageview.go
+++ b/lib/messageview.go
@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@ type MessageView interface {
 	FetchBodyPart(part []int, cb func(io.Reader))
 
 	MessageDetails() *models.MessageDetails
+
+	// SeenFlagSet returns true if the "seen" flag has been set
+	SeenFlagSet() bool
 }
 
 func usePGP(info *models.BodyStructure) bool {
@@ -56,6 +59,7 @@ type MessageStoreView struct {
 	message       []byte
 	details       *models.MessageDetails
 	bodyStructure *models.BodyStructure
+	setSeen       bool
 }
 
 func NewMessageStoreView(messageInfo *models.MessageInfo, setSeen bool,
@@ -65,6 +69,7 @@ func NewMessageStoreView(messageInfo *models.MessageInfo, setSeen bool,
 	msv := &MessageStoreView{
 		messageInfo, store,
 		nil, nil, messageInfo.BodyStructure,
+		setSeen,
 	}
 
 	if usePGP(messageInfo.BodyStructure) {
@@ -102,6 +107,10 @@ func NewMessageStoreView(messageInfo *models.MessageInfo, setSeen bool,
 	}
 }
 
+func (msv *MessageStoreView) SeenFlagSet() bool {
+	return msv.setSeen
+}
+
 func (msv *MessageStoreView) MessageInfo() *models.MessageInfo {
 	return msv.messageInfo
 }