diff --git a/Screenkey/screenkey.py b/Screenkey/screenkey.py
index a292ed9..d45a00d 100644
--- a/Screenkey/screenkey.py
+++ b/Screenkey/screenkey.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 import glib
 import pango
 import pickle
+import keybinder
 from threading import Timer
 
 from Screenkey import APP_NAME, APP_DESC, APP_URL, VERSION, AUTHOR
@@ -56,6 +57,8 @@ class Screenkey(gtk.Window):
     STATE_FILE = os.path.join(glib.get_user_cache_dir(), 
                               'screenkey.dat')
 
+    _disabled = False
+
     def __init__(self, logger, nodetach):
         gtk.Window.__init__(self)
 
@@ -69,6 +72,7 @@ def __init__(self, logger, nodetach):
                 'position': POS_BOTTOM,
                 'size': SIZE_MEDIUM,
                 'mode': MODE_NORMAL,
+                'hotkey': '<Ctrl>F1',
                 }
 
         if not nodetach:
@@ -107,7 +111,6 @@ def __init__(self, logger, nodetach):
                                    mode=self.options['mode'])
         self.listenkbd.start()
 
-
         menu = gtk.Menu()
 
         show_item = gtk.CheckMenuItem(_("Show keys"))
@@ -156,8 +159,8 @@ def __init__(self, logger, nodetach):
                     self.on_statusicon_popup, menu)
             self.logger.debug("Using StatusIcon.")
 
-
         self.connect("delete-event", self.quit)
+        keybinder.bind(self.options['hotkey'], self.hotkey_cb, show_item)
 
     def quit(self, widget, data=None):
         self.listenkbd.stop()
@@ -230,17 +233,22 @@ def on_statusicon_popup(self, widget, button, timestamp, data=None):
                            3, timestamp, widget)
 
     def on_label_change(self, widget, data=None):
-        if not self.get_property('visible'):
+        if not self._disabled:
+            if not self.get_property('visible'):
+                gtk.gdk.threads_enter()
+                self.set_xy_position(self.options['position'])
+                self.stick()
+                self.show()
+                gtk.gdk.threads_leave()
+            if self.timer:
+                self.timer.cancel()
+            self.timer = Timer(self.options['timeout'], self.on_timeout)
+            self.timer.start()
+        else:
             gtk.gdk.threads_enter()
-            self.set_xy_position(self.options['position'])
-            self.stick()
-            self.show()
+            self.hide()
+            self.label.set_text("")
             gtk.gdk.threads_leave()
-        if self.timer:
-            self.timer.cancel()
-
-        self.timer = Timer(self.options['timeout'], self.on_timeout)
-        self.timer.start()
 
     def on_timeout(self):
         gtk.gdk.threads_enter()
@@ -256,13 +264,24 @@ def on_change_mode(self, mode):
 
     def on_show_keys(self, widget, data=None):
         if widget.get_active():
+            self._disabled = False
             self.logger.debug("Screenkey enabled.")
             self.listenkbd = ListenKbd(self.label, logger=self.logger, 
                                        mode=self.options['mode'])
             self.listenkbd.start()
         else:
             self.logger.debug("Screenkey disabled.")
+            self._disabled = True
             self.listenkbd.stop()
+    
+    def hotkey_cb(self, widget, data=None):
+        if widget.get_active():
+            self.logger.debug("Hotkey Pressed: %s." % self.options['hotkey'])
+            self._disabled = True
+            widget.set_active(False)
+        else:
+            self._disabled = False
+            widget.set_active(True)
 
     def on_preferences_dialog(self, widget, data=None):
         prefs = gtk.Dialog(APP_NAME, None, 
@@ -294,6 +313,10 @@ def on_cbox_changed(widget, data=None):
                 self.options[name] = index
                 self.logger.debug("Window position changed.")
 
+        def on_entry_hotkey_changed(widget, data=None):
+            self.options['hotkey'] = widget.get_text()
+            self.logger.debug("Hotkey value Changed")
+
         frm_main = gtk.Frame(_("Preferences"))
         frm_main.set_border_width(6)
         vbox_main = gtk.VBox()
@@ -379,9 +402,27 @@ def on_cbox_changed(widget, data=None):
                             fill=False, padding=4)
         frm_kbd.add(hbox_kbd)
 
+        frm_hotkey = gtk.Frame(_("<b>Hot Keys</b>"))
+        frm_hotkey.set_border_width(4)
+        frm_hotkey.get_label_widget().set_use_markup(True)
+        frm_hotkey.set_shadow_type(gtk.SHADOW_NONE)
+        hbox_hotkey = gtk.HBox()
+        lbl_hotkey = gtk.Label(_("Shortcut"))
+        entry_hotkey = gtk.Entry()
+        entry_hotkey.set_text(self.options['hotkey'])
+        entry_hotkey.set_width_chars(10)
+        entry_hotkey.connect("changed", on_entry_hotkey_changed)
+        hbox_hotkey.pack_start(lbl_hotkey, expand=False,
+                            fill=False, padding=6)
+        hbox_hotkey.pack_start(entry_hotkey, expand=False,
+                            fill=False, padding=4)
+        frm_hotkey.add(hbox_hotkey)
+
+
         vbox_main.pack_start(frm_time, False, False, 6)
         vbox_main.pack_start(frm_aspect, False, False, 6)
         vbox_main.pack_start(frm_kbd, False, False, 6)
+        vbox_main.pack_start(frm_hotkey, False, False, 6)
         frm_main.add(vbox_main)
 
         prefs.vbox.pack_start(frm_main)