diff --git a/mu4e/mu4e-headers.el b/mu4e/mu4e-headers.el
index c5f3316a..e700cb88 100644
--- a/mu4e/mu4e-headers.el
+++ b/mu4e/mu4e-headers.el
@@ -563,6 +563,7 @@ after the end of the search results."
 (mu4e~headers-defun-mark-for untrash)
 (mu4e~headers-defun-mark-for unmark)
 (mu4e~headers-defun-mark-for unread)
+(mu4e~headers-defun-mark-for action)
 
 
 ;;; headers-mode and mode-map ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
@@ -636,6 +637,7 @@ after the end of the search results."
 
       (define-key map (kbd "?")            'mu4e-headers-mark-for-unread)
       (define-key map (kbd "!")            'mu4e-headers-mark-for-read)
+      (define-key map (kbd "A")            'mu4e-headers-mark-for-action)
 
       (define-key map (kbd "u")            'mu4e-headers-mark-for-unmark)
       (define-key map (kbd "+")            'mu4e-headers-mark-for-flag)
@@ -1514,13 +1516,15 @@ do nothing."
   (interactive "P")
   (mu4e-headers-split-view-grow (- (or n 1))))
 
-(defun mu4e-headers-action ()
+(defun mu4e-headers-action (&optional actionfunc)
   "Ask user what to do with message-at-point, then do it.
-The actions are specified in `mu4e-headers-actions'."
+The actions are specified in `mu4e-headers-actions'. Optionally,
+pass ACTIONFUNC, which is a function that takes a msg-plist
+argument."
   (interactive)
   (let ((msg (mu4e-message-at-point))
-	 (actionfunc (mu4e-read-option "Action: " mu4e-headers-actions)))
-    (funcall actionfunc msg)))
+	 (afunc (or actionfunc (mu4e-read-option "Action: " mu4e-headers-actions))))
+    (funcall afunc msg)))
 
 (defun mu4e-headers-mark-and-next (mark)
   "Set mark MARK on the message at point or on all messages in the
diff --git a/mu4e/mu4e-mark.el b/mu4e/mu4e-mark.el
index e380024c..0b21ef09 100644
--- a/mu4e/mu4e-mark.el
+++ b/mu4e/mu4e-mark.el
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@ Value is one of the following symbols:
 - `apply'   automatically apply the marks before doing anything else
 - `ignore'  automatically ignore the marks without asking"
   :type '(choice (const ask    :tag "ask user whether to ignore marks")
-		 (const apply  :tag "apply marks without asking")
-		 (const ignore :tag "ignore marks without asking"))
+	   (const apply  :tag "apply marks without asking")
+	   (const ignore :tag "ignore marks without asking"))
   :group 'mu4e-headers)
 
 (defvar mu4e-headers-show-target t
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ where
       (with-current-buffer b
 	(eq major-mode 'mu4e-headers-mode)))
     (buffer-list)))
- 
+
 (defmacro mu4e~mark-in-context (&rest body)
   "Evaluate BODY in the context of the headers buffer in case this
 is either a headers or view buffer."
@@ -141,59 +141,67 @@ properties are:
 
 (unless mu4e-marks
   (setq mu4e-marks
-'((refile
-   :char       "r"
-   :prompt     "refile"
-   :dyn-target  (lambda (target msg) (mu4e-get-refile-folder msg))
-   :action      (lambda (docid msg target) (mu4e~proc-move docid (mu4e~mark-check-target target) "-N")))
-  (delete
-   :char "D"
-   :prompt "Delete"
-   :show-target (lambda (target) "delete")
-   :action (lambda (docid msg target) (mu4e~proc-remove docid)))
-  (flag
-   :char "+"
-   :prompt "+flag"
-   :show-target (lambda (target) "flag")
-   :action (lambda (docid msg target) (mu4e~proc-move docid nil    "+F-u-N")))
-  (move
-   :char "m"
-   :prompt "move"
-   :ask-target  mu4e~mark-get-move-target
-   :action (lambda (docid msg target) (mu4e~proc-move docid (mu4e~mark-check-target target) "-N")))
-  (read
-   :char       "!"
-   :prompt "!read"
-   :show-target (lambda (target) "read")
-   :action (lambda (docid msg target) (mu4e~proc-move docid nil    "+S-u-N")))
-  (trash
-   :char      "d"
-   :prompt "dtrash"
-   :dyn-target (lambda (target msg) (mu4e-get-trash-folder msg))
-   :action (lambda (docid msg target) (mu4e~proc-move docid (mu4e~mark-check-target target) "+T-N")))
-  (unflag
-   :char     "-"
-   :prompt "-unflag"
-   :show-target (lambda (target) "unflag")
-   :action (lambda (docid msg target) (mu4e~proc-move docid nil    "-F-N")))
-  (untrash
-   :char    "="
-   :prompt "=untrash"
-   :show-target (lambda (target) "untrash")
-   :action (lambda (docid msg target) (mu4e~proc-move docid nil    "-T")))
-  (unread
-   :char     "?"
-   :prompt "?unread"
-   :show-target (lambda (target) "unread")
-   :action (lambda (docid msg target) (mu4e~proc-move docid nil    "-S+u-N")))
-  (unmark
-   :char     " "
-   :prompt "unmark"
-   :action (mu4e-error "No action for unmarking"))
-  (something
-   :char  "*"
-   :prompt "*something"
-   :action (mu4e-error "No action for deferred mark"))
+    '((refile
+	:char       "r"
+	:prompt     "refile"
+	:dyn-target  (lambda (target msg) (mu4e-get-refile-folder msg))
+	:action      (lambda (docid msg target) (mu4e~proc-move docid (mu4e~mark-check-target target) "-N")))
+       (delete
+	 :char "D"
+	 :prompt "Delete"
+	 :show-target (lambda (target) "delete")
+	 :action (lambda (docid msg target) (mu4e~proc-remove docid)))
+       (flag
+	 :char "+"
+	 :prompt "+flag"
+	 :show-target (lambda (target) "flag")
+	 :action (lambda (docid msg target) (mu4e~proc-move docid nil    "+F-u-N")))
+       (move
+	 :char "m"
+	 :prompt "move"
+	 :ask-target  mu4e~mark-get-move-target
+	 :action (lambda (docid msg target) (mu4e~proc-move docid (mu4e~mark-check-target target) "-N")))
+       (read
+	 :char       "!"
+	 :prompt "!read"
+	 :show-target (lambda (target) "read")
+	 :action (lambda (docid msg target) (mu4e~proc-move docid nil    "+S-u-N")))
+       (trash
+	 :char      "d"
+	 :prompt "dtrash"
+	 :dyn-target (lambda (target msg) (mu4e-get-trash-folder msg))
+	 :action (lambda (docid msg target) (mu4e~proc-move docid (mu4e~mark-check-target target) "+T-N")))
+       (unflag
+	 :char     "-"
+	 :prompt "-unflag"
+	 :show-target (lambda (target) "unflag")
+	 :action (lambda (docid msg target) (mu4e~proc-move docid nil    "-F-N")))
+       (untrash
+	 :char    "="
+	 :prompt "=untrash"
+	 :show-target (lambda (target) "untrash")
+	 :action (lambda (docid msg target) (mu4e~proc-move docid nil    "-T")))
+       (unread
+	 :char     "?"
+	 :prompt "?unread"
+	 :show-target (lambda (target) "unread")
+	 :action (lambda (docid msg target) (mu4e~proc-move docid nil    "-S+u-N")))
+       (unmark
+	 :char     " "
+	 :prompt "unmark"
+	 :action (mu4e-error "No action for unmarking"))
+       (action
+	 :char  "a"
+	 :prompt "action"
+	 :ask-target  (lambda () (mu4e-read-option "Action: " mu4e-headers-actions))
+	 :action  (lambda (docid msg actionfunc)
+		    (save-excursion
+		      (when (mu4e~headers-goto-docid docid)
+			(mu4e-headers-action actionfunc)))))
+       (something
+	 :char  "*"
+	 :prompt "*something"
+	 :action (mu4e-error "No action for deferred mark"))
   )))
 
 
@@ -218,7 +226,8 @@ The following marks are available, and the corresponding props:
    `unflag'    n	mark this message for unflagging
    `untrash'   n	remove the 'trashed' flag from a message
    `unmark'    n	unmark this message
-   `unread'    n	mark the message as unread"
+   `unread'    n	mark the message as unread
+   `action'    y        mark the message for some action."
   (interactive)
   (let* ((msg (mu4e-message-at-point))
 	  (docid (mu4e-message-field msg :docid))
@@ -230,8 +239,8 @@ The following marks are available, and the corresponding props:
           (target (mu4e~mark-get-dyn-target mark target))
           (show-fct (plist-get markdesc :show-target))
 	  (shown-target (if show-fct
-                            (funcall show-fct target)
-                          target)))
+			  (funcall show-fct target)
+                          (if target (format "%S" target)))))
     (unless docid (mu4e-warn "No message on this line"))
     (unless (eq major-mode 'mu4e-headers-mode) (mu4e-error "Not in headers-mode"))
     (save-excursion
@@ -261,9 +270,9 @@ The following marks are available, and the corresponding props:
 (defun mu4e~mark-get-move-target ()
   "Ask for a move target, and propose to create it if it does not exist."
   (interactive)
-;;  (mu4e-message-at-point) ;; raises error if there is none
+  ;;  (mu4e-message-at-point) ;; raises error if there is none
   (let* ((target (mu4e-ask-maildir "Move message to: "))
-         (target (if (string= (substring target 0 1) "/")
+	  (target (if (string= (substring target 0 1) "/")
 		    target
 		    (concat "/" target)))
 	  (fulltarget (concat mu4e-maildir target)))
@@ -283,7 +292,7 @@ The following marks are available, and the corresponding props:
 message at point."
   (let ((getter (plist-get (cdr (assq mark mu4e-marks)) :dyn-target)))
     (if getter
-        (funcall getter target (mu4e-message-at-point))
+      (funcall getter target (mu4e-message-at-point))
       target)))
 
 
@@ -315,11 +324,13 @@ headers in the region. Optionally, provide TARGET (for moves)."
   "Ask user for a mark; return (MARK . TARGET).
 If ALLOW-SOMETHING is non-nil, allow the 'something' pseudo mark
 as well."
-  (let* ((marks (mapcar (lambda (markdescr) (cons (plist-get (cdr markdescr) :prompt) (car markdescr))) mu4e-marks))
-         (marks
-          (if allow-something
-	      marks
-            (assq-delete-all 'something marks)))
+  (let* ((marks (mapcar (lambda (markdescr)
+			  (cons (plist-get (cdr markdescr) :prompt)
+			    (car markdescr)))
+		  mu4e-marks))
+	  (marks
+	    (if allow-something
+	      marks (remove-if (lambda (m) (eq 'something (cdr m))) marks)))
 	  (mark (mu4e-read-option prompt marks))
 	  (target (mu4e~mark-ask-target mark)))
     (cons mark target)))
@@ -351,7 +362,6 @@ user which one)."
       (mu4e-error "Target dir %s does not exist " fulltarget)
       target)))
 
-
 (defun mu4e-mark-execute-all (&optional no-confirmation)
   "Execute the actions for all marked messages in this buffer.
 After the actions have been executed succesfully, the affected
@@ -377,15 +387,15 @@ If NO-CONFIRMATION is non-nil, don't ask user for confirmation."
 	  (maphash
 	    (lambda (docid val)
 	      (let* ((mark (car val)) (target (cdr val))
-                     (markdescr (assq mark mu4e-marks))
-                     (msg (save-excursion
-                            (mu4e~headers-goto-docid docid)
-                            (mu4e-message-at-point))))
+		      (markdescr (assq mark mu4e-marks))
+		      (msg (save-excursion
+			     (mu4e~headers-goto-docid docid)
+			     (mu4e-message-at-point))))
 		;; note: whenever you do something with the message,
 		;; it looses its N (new) flag
                 (if markdescr
-                    (funcall (plist-get (cdr markdescr) :action) docid msg target)
-                    (mu4e-error "Unrecognized mark %S" mark))))
+		  (funcall (plist-get (cdr markdescr) :action) docid msg target)
+		  (mu4e-error "Unrecognized mark %S" mark))))
 	    mu4e~mark-map))
 	(mu4e-mark-unmark-all)
 	(message nil)))))
@@ -413,7 +423,7 @@ If NO-CONFIRMATION is non-nil, don't ask user for confirmation."
 (defun mu4e-mark-marks-num ()
   "Return the number of marks in the current buffer."
   (if mu4e~mark-map (hash-table-count mu4e~mark-map) 0))
- 
+
 
 (defun mu4e-mark-handle-when-leaving ()
   "If there are any marks in the current buffer, handle those
@@ -431,9 +441,9 @@ action', return nil means 'don't do anything'."
 		       '( ("apply marks"   . apply)
 			  ("ignore marks?" . ignore)))))
 	;; we determined what to do... now do it
-	  (when (eq what 'apply)
-	    (mu4e-mark-execute-all t))))))
-    
+	(when (eq what 'apply)
+	  (mu4e-mark-execute-all t))))))
+
 
 (provide 'mu4e-mark)
 ;; End of mu4e-mark.el
diff --git a/mu4e/mu4e.texi b/mu4e/mu4e.texi
index 239df84b..445b8ce2 100644
--- a/mu4e/mu4e.texi
+++ b/mu4e/mu4e.texi
@@ -2050,7 +2050,7 @@ mu4e-headers-mark-subthread}, respectively
 @cartouche
 @verbatim
   mark for/as  | keybinding  | description
- --------------+-------------+--------------------------
+ --------------+-------------+------------------------------
   'something'  | *, <insert> | mark now, decide later
   delete       | D, <delete> | delete
   flag         | +           | mark as 'flagged' ('starred')
@@ -2063,6 +2063,7 @@ mu4e-headers-mark-subthread}, respectively
   unmark       | u           | remove mark at point
   unmark all   | U           | remove all marks
   unread       | ?           | marks as unread
+  action       | a           | apply some action
 @end verbatim
 @end cartouche
 
@@ -2073,14 +2074,15 @@ messages, this slows things down significantly@footnote{this uses an
 in a buffer}. For this reason, you can disable this by setting
 @code{mu4e-headers-show-target} to @code{nil}.
 
-@t{something} is a special kind of mark; you can use it to mark messages for
-'something', and then decide later what the 'something' should
-be@footnote{This kind of 'deferred marking' is similar to the facility in
-@t{midnight commander} (@url{http://www.midnight-commander.org/}) and the
-like, and uses the same key binding (@key{insert}).}  Later, you can set the
-actual mark using @kbd{M-x mu4e-mark-resolve-deferred-marks}
-(@key{#}). Alternatively, @t{mu4e} will ask you when you try to execute the
-marks (@key{x}).
+@t{something} is a special kind of mark; you can use it to mark messages
+for 'something', and then decide later what the 'something' should
+be@footnote{This kind of 'deferred marking' is similar to the facility
+in @t{dired}, @t{midnight commander}
+(@url{http://www.midnight-commander.org/}) and the like, and uses the
+same key binding (@key{insert}).}  Later, you can set the actual mark
+using @kbd{M-x mu4e-mark-resolve-deferred-marks}
+(@key{#}). Alternatively, @t{mu4e} will ask you when you try to execute
+the marks (@key{x}).
 
 @node Executing the marks
 @section Executing the marks