diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 180b4bd..5f2e3a3 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -1357,9 +1357,9 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "libc"
-version = "0.2.110"
+version = "0.2.112"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "b58a4469763e4e3a906c4ed786e1c70512d16aa88f84dded826da42640fc6a1c"
+checksum = "1b03d17f364a3a042d5e5d46b053bbbf82c92c9430c592dd4c064dc6ee997125"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "libdbus-sys"
@@ -1731,6 +1731,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "futures 0.3.18",
  "ioctl-rs",
  "lazy_static 1.4.0",
+ "libc",
  "librespot-core",
  "librespot-playback",
  "librespot-protocol",
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 5fcfb65..2b1fd82 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ regex = "1"
 ioctl-rs = { version = "0.2", optional = true }
 serde_cbor = "0.11.2"
 pancurses = { version = "0.17.0", features = ["win32"] }
+libc = "0.2.111"
 
 [dependencies.rspotify]
 version = "0.11.3"
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7d28e30..679e9b6 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -259,18 +259,19 @@ time with <kbd>Escape</kbd>.
 
 The following commands are supported:
 
-| Command                            | Action                                                           |
-| :--------------------------------- | :--------------------------------------------------------------- |
-| `quit`                             | Quit `ncspot`.                                                   |
-| `logout`                           | Remove any cached credentials from disk and quit `ncspot`.       |
-| `toggle`                           | Toggle playback.                                                 |
-| `stop`                             | Stop playback.                                                   |
-| `previous`                         | Play previous track.                                             |
-| `next`                             | Play next track.                                                 |
-| `clear`                            | Clear playlist.                                                  |
-| `share <item>`                     | Copies a sharable URL of the item to the system clipboard.       |
-| `newplaylist <name>`               | Create new playlist with name `<name>`.                          |
+| Command | Action |
+|---|---|
+| `quit` | Quit `ncspot`. |
+| `logout` | Remove any cached credentials from disk and quit `ncspot`. |
+| `toggle` | Toggle playback. |
+| `stop` | Stop playback. |
+| `previous` | Play previous track. |
+| `next` | Play next track. |
+| `clear` | Clear playlist. |
+| `share <item>` | Copies a sharable URL of the item to the system clipboard. |
+| `newplaylist <name>` | Create new playlist with name `<name>`. |
 | `sort <sort_key> <sort_direction>` | Sort a playlist by `<sort_key>` in direction `<sort_direction>`. |
+| `exec <cmd>` | Executes a command in the system shell. Be aware that command output is printed to the terminal, so redirection to `/dev/null` e.g. by appending `2> /dev/null` may be necessary. |
 
 Supported `<item>` are:
 
diff --git a/src/command.rs b/src/command.rs
index 7d70a5d..1ba021a 100644
--- a/src/command.rs
+++ b/src/command.rs
@@ -136,6 +136,7 @@ pub enum Command {
     Logout,
     ShowRecommendations(TargetMode),
     Redraw,
+    Execute(String),
 }
 
 impl fmt::Display for Command {
@@ -191,7 +192,7 @@ impl fmt::Display for Command {
             Command::Jump(mode) => match mode {
                 JumpMode::Previous => "jumpprevious".to_string(),
                 JumpMode::Next => "jumpnext".to_string(),
-                JumpMode::Query(term) => format!("jump {}", term).to_string(),
+                JumpMode::Query(term) => String::from(format!("jump {}", term)),
             },
             Command::Help => "help".to_string(),
             Command::ReloadConfig => "reload".to_string(),
@@ -201,6 +202,7 @@ impl fmt::Display for Command {
             Command::Logout => "logout".to_string(),
             Command::ShowRecommendations(mode) => format!("similar {}", mode),
             Command::Redraw => "redraw".to_string(),
+            Command::Execute(cmd) => format!("exec {}", cmd),
         };
         // escape the command separator
         let repr = repr.replace(";", ";;");
@@ -471,6 +473,7 @@ pub fn parse(input: &str) -> Option<Vec<Command>> {
                 .map(Command::ShowRecommendations),
             "noop" => Some(Command::Noop),
             "redraw" => Some(Command::Redraw),
+            "exec" => Some(Command::Execute(args.join(" "))),
             _ => None,
         };
         commands.push(command?);
diff --git a/src/commands.rs b/src/commands.rs
index 0520451..4997700 100644
--- a/src/commands.rs
+++ b/src/commands.rs
@@ -253,6 +253,13 @@ impl CommandManager {
                 s.quit();
                 Ok(None)
             }
+            Command::Execute(cmd) => {
+                log::info!("Executing command: {}", cmd);
+                let cmd = std::ffi::CString::new(cmd.clone()).unwrap();
+                let result = unsafe { libc::system(cmd.as_ptr()) };
+                log::info!("Exit code: {}", result);
+                Ok(None)
+            }
             Command::Jump(_)
             | Command::Move(_, _)
             | Command::Shift(_, _)