diff --git a/docs/pv.1 b/docs/pv.1
index 81980ed..6c5d97d 100644
--- a/docs/pv.1
+++ b/docs/pv.1
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ pv \- monitor and manage the progress of data through a pipe
 \fBpv\fR \fB\-R\fR|\fB\-\-remote\fR \fIPID\fR [\fIOPTION\fR]...
 .PP
 \fBpv\fR \fB\-Q\fR|\fB\-\-query\fR \fIPID\fR [\fIOPTION\fR]...
+.PP
+\fBpv\fR [\fIOPTION\fR]... \fB\-M\fR|\fB\-\-monitor\fR \-\- \fICOMMAND\fR [\fIARGS\fR]...
 .\"
 .SH DESCRIPTION
 Show the progress of data through a pipeline by giving information such as
@@ -27,6 +29,9 @@ read.
 .PP
 In \*(lq\fB\-\-watchfd\fR\*(rq mode, inspect another process and show its
 progress through the files it has open.
+.PP
+In \*(lq\fB\-\-monitor\fR\*(rq mode, run a command and display the progress
+of data through both its standard input and its standard output.
 .\"
 .SH OPTIONS
 .\"
@@ -409,6 +414,20 @@ they match those of that process - such as
 \*(lq\fB\-\-null\fR\*(rq, and
 \*(lq\fB\-\-average\-rate\-window\fR\*(rq.
 Data transfer modifiers will have no effect.
+.TP
+.B \-M, \-\-monitor
+Run the command specified by the remaining arguments, and monitor its
+standard input and standard output.
+Use \*(lq\fB\-\-\fR\*(rq after all of the \fBpv\fR options to keep the
+command's options separate.
+.IP
+For example, \*(lq\fBpv\~\-\-cursor\~\-\-monitor\~\-\-\~gzip\~\-9\fR\*(rq is
+equivalent to
+\*(lq\fBpv\~\-\-cursor\~|\~gzip\~\-9\~|\~pv\~\-\-cursor\fR\*(rq, except that
+the latter can't show the input:output ratio.
+.\"TODO: choice of displaying two progress bars (in + out) or only one
+.\"TODO: formatting option for input:output ratio
+.\"TODO: a way to specify the name of each bar, if there are two
 .\"
 .SS "Other options"
 .TP
diff --git a/src/include/options.h b/src/include/options.h
index 2b339d8..366cc50 100644
--- a/src/include/options.h
+++ b/src/include/options.h
@@ -32,7 +32,8 @@ typedef enum {
 	PV_ACTION_STORE_AND_FORWARD,	/* store to file, then output from it */
 	PV_ACTION_WATCHFD,		/* watch process file descriptors */
 	PV_ACTION_REMOTE_CONTROL,	/* remotely control another pv */
-	PV_ACTION_QUERY			/* watch the state of another pv */
+	PV_ACTION_QUERY,		/* watch the state of another pv */
+	PV_ACTION_MONITOR		/* run a process, watch its stdin/out */
 } pvaction_t;
 
 /*
diff --git a/src/main/help.c b/src/main/help.c
index 8c67489..07837e9 100644
--- a/src/main/help.c
+++ b/src/main/help.c
@@ -372,6 +372,9 @@ void display_help(void)
 		 N_("show progress of process PID"),
 		 { 0, 0, 0, 0} },
 #endif				/* PV_REMOTE_CONTROL */
+		{ "-M", "--monitor", NULL,
+		 N_("monitor the input and output of a command"),
+		 { 0, 0, 0, 0} },
 		{ "", NULL, NULL, NULL, { 0, 0, 0, 0} },
 		{ "-P", "--pidfile", N_("FILE"),
 		 N_("save process ID in FILE"),
diff --git a/src/main/main.c b/src/main/main.c
index 816287e..c71c26b 100644
--- a/src/main/main.c
+++ b/src/main/main.c
@@ -560,6 +560,11 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 		/* Query the progress of another running pv. */
 		retcode = pv_query_loop(state, opts->query);
 		break;
+	case PV_ACTION_MONITOR:
+		/* Run a process and monitor its input and output. */
+		/* TODO: run the monitor action. */
+		retcode = 1;
+		break;
 	}
 
 	/* Clear up the PID file, if one was written. */
diff --git a/src/main/options.c b/src/main/options.c
index f49a676..ce3b192 100644
--- a/src/main/options.c
+++ b/src/main/options.c
@@ -680,6 +680,7 @@ opts_t opts_parse(unsigned int argc, char **argv)
 		{ "watchfd", 1, NULL, (int) 'd' },
 		{ "output", 1, NULL, (int) 'o' },
 		{ "average-rate-window", 1, NULL, (int) 'm' },
+		{ "monitor", 0, NULL, (int) 'M' },
 #ifdef ENABLE_DEBUGGING
 		{ "debug", 1, NULL, (int) '!' },
 #endif				/* ENABLE_DEBUGGING */
@@ -688,7 +689,7 @@ opts_t opts_parse(unsigned int argc, char **argv)
 	/*@+nullassign@ */
 	int option_index = 0;
 #endif				/* HAVE_GETOPT_LONG */
-	char *short_options = "hVpteIrab8kTA:fvnqcWD:s:gl0i:w:H:N:u:F:x:L:B:CEZ:SYKOXU:R:Q:P:d:m:o:"
+	char *short_options = "hVpteIrab8kTA:fvnqcWD:s:gl0i:w:H:N:u:F:x:L:B:CEZ:SYKOXU:R:Q:P:d:m:o:M"
 #ifdef ENABLE_DEBUGGING
 	    "!:"
 #endif
@@ -1102,6 +1103,9 @@ opts_t opts_parse(unsigned int argc, char **argv)
 		case 'm':
 			opts->average_rate_window = pv_getnum_count(optarg, opts->decimal_units);
 			break;
+		case 'M':
+			opts->action = PV_ACTION_MONITOR;
+			break;
 #ifdef ENABLE_DEBUGGING
 		case '!':
 			debugging_output_destination(optarg);
@@ -1250,6 +1254,18 @@ opts_t opts_parse(unsigned int argc, char **argv)
 		/*@+mustfreefresh@ */
 	}
 
+	/*
+	 * At least one non-option argument is required with -M.
+	 */
+	if ((PV_ACTION_MONITOR == opts->action) && (optind >= (int) argc)) {
+		/*@-mustfreefresh@ *//* see above */
+		fprintf(stderr, "%s: -M: %s\n", opts->program_name,
+			_("a command to run must be specified"));
+		opts_free(opts);
+		return NULL;
+		/*@+mustfreefresh@ */
+	}
+
 	/*
 	 * Store remaining command-line arguments.
 	 */