diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index dc0c464..8de6c13 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -12,3 +12,4 @@ examples/textinputs/textinputs
 examples/views/views
 tutorials/basics/basics
 tutorials/commands/commands
+.idea
diff --git a/examples/altscreen-toggle/main.go b/examples/altscreen-toggle/main.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2795b24
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/altscreen-toggle/main.go
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+
+	tea "github.com/charmbracelet/bubbletea"
+	"github.com/muesli/termenv"
+)
+
+var (
+	color   = termenv.ColorProfile().Color
+	keyword = termenv.Style{}.Foreground(color("204")).Background(color("235")).Styled
+)
+
+type model struct {
+	altscreen bool
+	quitting  bool
+}
+
+func (m model) Init() tea.Cmd {
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (m model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
+	switch msg := msg.(type) {
+	case tea.KeyMsg:
+		switch msg.String() {
+		case "q", "ctrl+c", "esc":
+			m.quitting = true
+			return m, tea.Quit
+		case " ":
+			var cmd tea.Cmd
+			if m.altscreen {
+				cmd = tea.ExitAltScreen
+			} else {
+				cmd = tea.EnterAltScreen
+			}
+			m.altscreen = !m.altscreen
+			return m, cmd
+		}
+	}
+	return m, nil
+}
+
+func (m model) View() string {
+	if m.quitting {
+		return "Bye!\n"
+	}
+
+	const (
+		altscreenMode = " altscreen mode "
+		inlineMode    = " inline mode "
+	)
+
+	var mode, otherMode string
+	if m.altscreen {
+		mode = altscreenMode
+		otherMode = inlineMode
+	} else {
+		mode = inlineMode
+		otherMode = altscreenMode
+	}
+
+	return fmt.Sprintf(
+		"\n  You're in %s. Press %s to swich to %s.\n\n  To exit press %s.\n",
+		keyword(mode), keyword(" space "), keyword(otherMode), keyword(" q "),
+	)
+}
+
+func main() {
+	if err := tea.NewProgram(model{}).Start(); err != nil {
+		fmt.Println("Error running program:", err)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/examples/fullscreen/main.go b/examples/fullscreen/main.go
index 0a7e293..4ad9464 100644
--- a/examples/fullscreen/main.go
+++ b/examples/fullscreen/main.go
@@ -18,9 +18,9 @@ type tickMsg time.Time
 func main() {
 	p := tea.NewProgram(model(5))
 
+	// Bubble Tea will automatically exit the alternate screen buffer.
 	p.EnterAltScreen()
 	err := p.Start()
-	p.ExitAltScreen()
 
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Fatal(err)
diff --git a/tea.go b/tea.go
index cd82ce2..af6fef8 100644
--- a/tea.go
+++ b/tea.go
@@ -168,6 +168,26 @@ func Quit() Msg {
 // send a quitMsg with Quit.
 type quitMsg struct{}
 
+// EnterAltScreen is a special command that tells the Bubble Tea program to enter
+// alternate screen buffer.
+func EnterAltScreen() Msg {
+	return enterAltScreenMsg{}
+}
+
+// enterAltScreenMsg in an internal message signals that the program should enter
+// alternate screen buffer. You can send a enterAltScreenMsg with EnterAltScreen.
+type enterAltScreenMsg struct{}
+
+// ExitAltScreen is a special command that tells the Bubble Tea program to exit
+// alternate screen buffer.
+func ExitAltScreen() Msg {
+	return exitAltScreenMsg{}
+}
+
+// exitAltScreenMsg in an internal message signals that the program should exit
+// alternate screen buffer. You can send a exitAltScreenMsg with ExitAltScreen.
+type exitAltScreenMsg struct{}
+
 // batchMsg is the internal message used to perform a bunch of commands. You
 // can send a batchMsg with Batch.
 type batchMsg []Cmd
@@ -366,9 +386,14 @@ func (p *Program) Start() error {
 			// Handle special messages
 			switch msg.(type) {
 			case quitMsg:
+				p.ExitAltScreen()
 				p.renderer.stop()
 				close(done)
 				return nil
+			case enterAltScreenMsg:
+				p.EnterAltScreen()
+			case exitAltScreenMsg:
+				p.ExitAltScreen()
 			case hideCursorMsg:
 				hideCursor(p.output)
 			}
@@ -399,6 +424,11 @@ func (p *Program) Start() error {
 func (p *Program) EnterAltScreen() {
 	p.mtx.Lock()
 	defer p.mtx.Unlock()
+
+	if p.altScreenActive {
+		return
+	}
+
 	fmt.Fprintf(p.output, te.CSI+te.AltScreenSeq)
 	moveCursor(p.output, 0, 0)
 
@@ -412,6 +442,11 @@ func (p *Program) EnterAltScreen() {
 func (p *Program) ExitAltScreen() {
 	p.mtx.Lock()
 	defer p.mtx.Unlock()
+
+	if !p.altScreenActive {
+		return
+	}
+
 	fmt.Fprintf(p.output, te.CSI+te.ExitAltScreenSeq)
 
 	p.altScreenActive = false