diff --git a/helix-term/src/application.rs b/helix-term/src/application.rs
index dd19a2d72..17b58420c 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/application.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/application.rs
@@ -356,6 +356,8 @@ impl Application {
     }
 
     pub fn handle_config_events(&mut self, config_event: ConfigEvent) {
+        let old_editor_config = self.editor.config();
+
         match config_event {
             ConfigEvent::Refresh => self.refresh_config(),
 
@@ -374,7 +376,7 @@ impl Application {
 
         // Update all the relevant members in the editor after updating
         // the configuration.
-        self.editor.refresh_config();
+        self.editor.refresh_config(&old_editor_config);
 
         // reset view position in case softwrap was enabled/disabled
         let scrolloff = self.editor.config().scrolloff;
diff --git a/helix-term/src/events.rs b/helix-term/src/events.rs
index 80f045cd7..b0a422989 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/events.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/events.rs
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 use helix_event::{events, register_event};
 use helix_view::document::Mode;
 use helix_view::events::{
-    DiagnosticsDidChange, DocumentDidChange, DocumentDidClose, DocumentDidOpen, DocumentFocusLost,
-    LanguageServerExited, LanguageServerInitialized, SelectionDidChange,
+    ConfigDidChange, DiagnosticsDidChange, DocumentDidChange, DocumentDidClose, DocumentDidOpen,
+    DocumentFocusLost, LanguageServerExited, LanguageServerInitialized, SelectionDidChange,
 };
 
 use crate::commands;
@@ -26,4 +26,5 @@ pub fn register() {
     register_event::<DiagnosticsDidChange>();
     register_event::<LanguageServerInitialized>();
     register_event::<LanguageServerExited>();
+    register_event::<ConfigDidChange>();
 }
diff --git a/helix-view/src/editor.rs b/helix-view/src/editor.rs
index 575a0b5f1..2e5c60cfa 100644
--- a/helix-view/src/editor.rs
+++ b/helix-view/src/editor.rs
@@ -1289,11 +1289,16 @@ impl Editor {
 
     /// Call if the config has changed to let the editor update all
     /// relevant members.
-    pub fn refresh_config(&mut self) {
+    pub fn refresh_config(&mut self, old_config: &Config) {
         let config = self.config();
         self.auto_pairs = (&config.auto_pairs).into();
         self.reset_idle_timer();
         self._refresh();
+        helix_event::dispatch(crate::events::ConfigDidChange {
+            editor: self,
+            old: old_config,
+            new: &config,
+        })
     }
 
     pub fn clear_idle_timer(&mut self) {
diff --git a/helix-view/src/events.rs b/helix-view/src/events.rs
index 4a44beb35..0435e6a47 100644
--- a/helix-view/src/events.rs
+++ b/helix-view/src/events.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ use helix_core::{ChangeSet, Rope};
 use helix_event::events;
 use helix_lsp::LanguageServerId;
 
-use crate::{Document, DocumentId, Editor, ViewId};
+use crate::{editor::Config, Document, DocumentId, Editor, ViewId};
 
 events! {
     DocumentDidOpen<'a> {
@@ -33,4 +33,12 @@ events! {
         editor: &'a mut Editor,
         server_id: LanguageServerId
     }
+
+    // NOTE: this event is simple for now and is expected to change as the config system evolves.
+    // Ideally it would say what changed.
+    ConfigDidChange<'a> {
+        editor: &'a mut Editor,
+        old: &'a Config,
+        new: &'a Config
+    }
 }