diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 759245f..71f5478 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -13,6 +13,11 @@ Add the following to your .emacs file:
     (global-set-key [(shift f3)] 'highlight-symbol-prev)
     (global-set-key [(meta f3)] 'highlight-symbol-query-replace)
 
+Or turn on `global-highlight-symbol-mode` to enable it globally:
+
+    (require 'highlight-symbol)
+    (global-highlight-symbol-mode 1)
+
 Use `highlight-symbol` to toggle highlighting of the symbol at
 point throughout the current buffer.  Use `highlight-symbol-mode` to keep the
 symbol at point highlighted.
diff --git a/highlight-symbol.el b/highlight-symbol.el
index afe6aab..02785d5 100644
--- a/highlight-symbol.el
+++ b/highlight-symbol.el
@@ -215,6 +215,10 @@ Highlighting takes place after `highlight-symbol-idle-delay'."
     (highlight-symbol-mode-remove-temp)
     (kill-local-variable 'highlight-symbol)))
 
+;;;###autoload
+(define-globalized-minor-mode global-highlight-symbol-mode highlight-symbol-mode
+  (lambda () (highlight-symbol-mode 1)))
+
 ;;;###autoload
 (defalias 'highlight-symbol-at-point 'highlight-symbol)