diff --git a/caca/attr.c b/caca/attr.c
index 9b7208b..8ec0068 100644
--- a/caca/attr.c
+++ b/caca/attr.c
@@ -156,7 +156,8 @@ int caca_put_attr(caca_canvas_t *cv, int x, int y, uint32_t attr)
         xmax++;
     }
 
-    caca_add_dirty_rect(cv, xmin, y, xmax - xmin + 1, 1);
+    if(!cv->dirty_disabled)
+        caca_add_dirty_rect(cv, xmin, y, xmax - xmin + 1, 1);
 
     return 0;
 }
diff --git a/caca/caca.h b/caca/caca.h
index 82963f9..6e5a71c 100644
--- a/caca/caca.h
+++ b/caca/caca.h
@@ -240,6 +240,8 @@ __extern int caca_set_canvas_boundaries(caca_canvas_t *, int, int, int, int);
  *
  *  These functions manipulate dirty rectangles for optimised blitting.
  *  @{ */
+__extern int caca_disable_dirty_rect(caca_canvas_t *);
+__extern int caca_enable_dirty_rect(caca_canvas_t *);
 __extern int caca_get_dirty_rect_count(caca_canvas_t *);
 __extern int caca_get_dirty_rect(caca_canvas_t *, int, int *, int *,
                                  int *, int *);
diff --git a/caca/caca_internals.h b/caca/caca_internals.h
index 1bc8b60..c9875e3 100644
--- a/caca/caca_internals.h
+++ b/caca/caca_internals.h
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ struct caca_canvas
     void *resize_data;
 
     /* Dirty rectangles */
-    int ndirty;
+    int ndirty, dirty_disabled;
     struct
     {
         int xmin, ymin, xmax, ymax;
diff --git a/caca/canvas.c b/caca/canvas.c
index 6483bc3..e6ce3c0 100644
--- a/caca/canvas.c
+++ b/caca/canvas.c
@@ -433,7 +433,9 @@ int caca_resize(caca_canvas_t *cv, int width, int height)
             }
         }
 
-        caca_add_dirty_rect(cv, old_width, 0, width - old_width, old_height);
+        if(!cv->dirty_disabled)
+            caca_add_dirty_rect(cv, old_width, 0,
+                                width - old_width, old_height);
     }
     else
     {
@@ -474,12 +476,15 @@ int caca_resize(caca_canvas_t *cv, int width, int height)
             }
         }
 
-        caca_add_dirty_rect(cv, 0, old_height, old_width, height - old_height);
+        if(!cv->dirty_disabled)
+            caca_add_dirty_rect(cv, 0, old_height,
+                                old_width, height - old_height);
     }
 
     /* If both width and height are larger, there is a new dirty rectangle
      * that needs to be created in the lower right corner. */
-    if(width > old_width && height > old_height)
+    if(!cv->dirty_disabled &&
+        width > old_width && height > old_height)
         caca_add_dirty_rect(cv, old_width, old_height,
                             width - old_width, height - old_height);
 
diff --git a/caca/dirty.c b/caca/dirty.c
index 9e04c07..2df1588 100644
--- a/caca/dirty.c
+++ b/caca/dirty.c
@@ -36,6 +36,51 @@
 
 static void merge_new_rect(caca_canvas_t *cv, int n);
 
+/** \brief Disable dirty rectangles.
+ *
+ *  Disable dirty rectangle handling for all \e libcaca graphic calls. This
+ *  is handy when the calling application needs to do slow operations within
+ *  a known area. Just call caca_add_dirty_rect() afterwards.
+ *
+ *  This function is recursive. Dirty rectangles are only reenabled when
+ *  caca_enable_dirty_rect() is called as many times.
+ *
+ *  This function never fails.
+ *
+ *  \param cv A libcaca canvas.
+ *  \return This function always returns 0.
+ */
+int caca_disable_dirty_rect(caca_canvas_t *cv)
+{
+    cv->dirty_disabled++;
+
+    return 0;
+}
+
+/** \brief Enable dirty rectangles.
+ *
+ *  This function can only be called after caca_disable_dirty_rect() was
+ *  called.
+ *
+ *  If an error occurs, -1 is returned and \b errno is set accordingly:
+ *  - \c EINVAL Dirty rectangles were not disabled.
+ *
+ *  \param cv A libcaca canvas.
+ *  \return 0 in case of success, -1 if an error occurred.
+ */
+int caca_enable_dirty_rect(caca_canvas_t *cv)
+{
+    if(cv->dirty_disabled <= 0)
+    {
+        seterrno(EINVAL);
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    cv->dirty_disabled--;
+
+    return 0;
+}
+
 /** \brief Get the number of dirty rectangles in the canvas.
  *
  *  Get the number of dirty rectangles in a canvas. Dirty rectangles are
diff --git a/caca/frame.c b/caca/frame.c
index 79c4189..f7d9fff 100644
--- a/caca/frame.c
+++ b/caca/frame.c
@@ -72,7 +72,8 @@ int caca_set_frame(caca_canvas_t *cv, int id)
     cv->frame = id;
     _caca_load_frame_info(cv);
 
-    caca_add_dirty_rect(cv, 0, 0, cv->width, cv->height);
+    if(!cv->dirty_disabled)
+        caca_add_dirty_rect(cv, 0, 0, cv->width, cv->height);
 
     return 0;
 }
@@ -236,7 +237,8 @@ int caca_free_frame(caca_canvas_t *cv, int id)
     {
         cv->frame = 0;
         _caca_load_frame_info(cv);
-        caca_add_dirty_rect(cv, 0, 0, cv->width, cv->height);
+        if(!cv->dirty_disabled)
+            caca_add_dirty_rect(cv, 0, 0, cv->width, cv->height);
     }
 
     return 0;
diff --git a/caca/string.c b/caca/string.c
index 62b709f..696dd88 100644
--- a/caca/string.c
+++ b/caca/string.c
@@ -180,7 +180,8 @@ int caca_put_char(caca_canvas_t *cv, int x, int y, uint32_t ch)
      * or attribute at that place. This does not account for inconsistencies
      * in the canvas, ie. if CACA_MAGIC_FULLWIDTH lies at illegal places,
      * but it's the caller's responsibility not to corrupt the contents. */
-    if(curchar[0] != ch || curattr[0] != attr)
+    if(!cv->dirty_disabled
+        && (curchar[0] != ch || curattr[0] != attr))
         caca_add_dirty_rect(cv, xmin, y, xmax - xmin + 1, 1);
 
     curchar[0] = ch;
@@ -327,7 +328,8 @@ int caca_clear_canvas(caca_canvas_t *cv)
         cv->attrs[n] = attr;
     }
 
-    caca_add_dirty_rect(cv, 0, 0, cv->width, cv->height);
+    if(!cv->dirty_disabled)
+        caca_add_dirty_rect(cv, 0, 0, cv->width, cv->height);
 
     return 0;
 }
@@ -453,7 +455,8 @@ int caca_blit(caca_canvas_t *dst, int x, int y,
                 {
                     dst->chars[dstix + i] = src->chars[srcix + i];
                     dst->attrs[dstix + i] = src->attrs[srcix + i];
-                    caca_add_dirty_rect(dst, x + starti + i, y + j, 1, 1);
+                    if(!dst->dirty_disabled)
+                        caca_add_dirty_rect(dst, x + starti + i, y + j, 1, 1);
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -465,7 +468,8 @@ int caca_blit(caca_canvas_t *dst, int x, int y,
                 /* FIXME be more precise ? */
                 memcpy(dst->chars + dstix, src->chars + srcix, stride * 4);
                 memcpy(dst->attrs + dstix, src->attrs + srcix, stride * 4);
-                caca_add_dirty_rect(dst, x + starti, y + j, stride, 1);
+                if(!dst->dirty_disabled)
+                    caca_add_dirty_rect(dst, x + starti, y + j, stride, 1);
             }
         }
 
@@ -542,7 +546,8 @@ int caca_set_canvas_boundaries(caca_canvas_t *cv, int x, int y, int w, int h)
     _caca_load_frame_info(cv);
 
     /* FIXME: this may be optimised somewhat */
-    caca_add_dirty_rect(cv, 0, 0, cv->width, cv->height);
+    if(!cv->dirty_disabled)
+        caca_add_dirty_rect(cv, 0, 0, cv->width, cv->height);
 
     return 0;
 }
diff --git a/caca/transform.c b/caca/transform.c
index 51923fa..81d39bc 100644
--- a/caca/transform.c
+++ b/caca/transform.c
@@ -54,7 +54,8 @@ int caca_invert(caca_canvas_t *cv)
         attrs++;
     }
 
-    caca_add_dirty_rect(cv, 0, 0, cv->width, cv->height);
+    if(!cv->dirty_disabled)
+        caca_add_dirty_rect(cv, 0, 0, cv->width, cv->height);
 
     return 0;
 }
@@ -115,7 +116,8 @@ int caca_flip(caca_canvas_t *cv)
         }
     }
 
-    caca_add_dirty_rect(cv, 0, 0, cv->width, cv->height);
+    if(!cv->dirty_disabled)
+        caca_add_dirty_rect(cv, 0, 0, cv->width, cv->height);
 
     return 0;
 }
@@ -162,7 +164,8 @@ int caca_flop(caca_canvas_t *cv)
             *ctop = flopchar(*ctop);
     }
 
-    caca_add_dirty_rect(cv, 0, 0, cv->width, cv->height);
+    if(!cv->dirty_disabled)
+        caca_add_dirty_rect(cv, 0, 0, cv->width, cv->height);
 
     return 0;
 }
@@ -221,7 +224,8 @@ int caca_rotate_180(caca_canvas_t *cv)
         }
     }
 
-    caca_add_dirty_rect(cv, 0, 0, cv->width, cv->height);
+    if(!cv->dirty_disabled)
+        caca_add_dirty_rect(cv, 0, 0, cv->width, cv->height);
 
     return 0;
 }
@@ -340,7 +344,8 @@ int caca_rotate_left(caca_canvas_t *cv)
     /* Reset the current frame shortcuts */
     _caca_load_frame_info(cv);
 
-    caca_add_dirty_rect(cv, 0, 0, cv->width, cv->height);
+    if(!cv->dirty_disabled)
+        caca_add_dirty_rect(cv, 0, 0, cv->width, cv->height);
 
     return 0;
 }
@@ -459,7 +464,8 @@ int caca_rotate_right(caca_canvas_t *cv)
     /* Reset the current frame shortcuts */
     _caca_load_frame_info(cv);
 
-    caca_add_dirty_rect(cv, 0, 0, cv->width, cv->height);
+    if(!cv->dirty_disabled)
+        caca_add_dirty_rect(cv, 0, 0, cv->width, cv->height);
 
     return 0;
 }
diff --git a/tests/.gitignore b/tests/.gitignore
index 091bbf1..5a136f5 100644
--- a/tests/.gitignore
+++ b/tests/.gitignore
@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@
-simple
+bench
 caca-test
+simple
diff --git a/tests/bench.c b/tests/bench.c
index 8cfdf58..8fdd5e0 100644
--- a/tests/bench.c
+++ b/tests/bench.c
@@ -47,16 +47,23 @@ static void blit(int mask, int clear)
     caca_free_canvas(cv2);
 }
 
-static void putchars(void)
+static void putchars(int optim)
 {
     caca_canvas_t *cv;
     int i;
     cv = caca_create_canvas(40, 40);
+    if(optim)
+        caca_disable_dirty_rect(cv);
     for (i = 0; i < PUTCHAR_LOOPS; i++)
     {
         caca_put_char(cv, 1, 1, 'x');
         caca_put_char(cv, 1, 1, 'o');
     }
+    if(optim)
+    {
+        caca_enable_dirty_rect(cv);
+        caca_add_dirty_rect(cv, 1, 1, 1, 1);
+    }
     caca_free_canvas(cv);
 }
 
@@ -66,7 +73,8 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     TIME("blit no mask, clear", blit(0, 1));
     TIME("blit mask, no clear", blit(1, 0));
     TIME("blit mask, clear", blit(1, 1));
-    TIME("putchars", putchars());
+    TIME("putchars, no optim", putchars(0));
+    TIME("putchars, optim", putchars(1));
     return 0;
 }