diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7909f7b2c..907847d35 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -151,6 +151,10 @@ Bind `ZZ` to save and close the current file:
   * Width to word-wrap to when using `gq`.
   * Type: number (Default: `80`)
 
+#### leader
+  * What key should `<leader>` map to in key remappings?
+  * Type: string (Default: `\`)
+
 ## Configure
 
 Vim options are loaded in the following sequence:
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index d43962383..229a82fe4 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -269,6 +269,11 @@
           "description": "Enable some vim ctrl key commands that override otherwise common operations, like ctrl+c",
           "default": true
         },
+        "vim.leader": {
+          "type": "string",
+          "description": "What key should <leader> map to in remappings?",
+          "default": "\\"
+        },
         "vim.searchHighlightColor": {
           "type": "string",
           "description": "Color of the search highlight.",
diff --git a/src/configuration/configuration.ts b/src/configuration/configuration.ts
index 40486e10a..9440e2d54 100644
--- a/src/configuration/configuration.ts
+++ b/src/configuration/configuration.ts
@@ -116,6 +116,11 @@ class ConfigurationClass {
    */
   showcmd = true;
 
+  /**
+   * What key should <leader> map to in key remappings?
+   */
+  leader = "\\";
+
   /**
    * Show results of / or ? search as user is typing?
    */
diff --git a/src/notation.ts b/src/notation.ts
index 704d54c38..e87792c18 100644
--- a/src/notation.ts
+++ b/src/notation.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+import { Configuration } from './configuration/configuration';
+
 export class AngleBracketNotation {
 
   // Mapping from the nomalized string to regex strings that could match it.
@@ -27,6 +29,10 @@ export class AngleBracketNotation {
       return "\n";
     }
 
+    if (key.toLowerCase() === "<leader>") {
+      return Configuration.leader;
+    }
+
     for (const notationMapKey in this._notationMap) {
       if (this._notationMap.hasOwnProperty(notationMapKey)) {
         const regex = new RegExp(this._notationMap[notationMapKey].join('|'), 'gi');