diff --git a/config.c b/config.c
index 70be717..4cb1cd6 100644
--- a/config.c
+++ b/config.c
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ void init_default_style(struct mako_style *style) {
 	style->actions = true;
 	style->default_timeout = 0;
 	style->ignore_timeout = false;
+	style->freeze = false;
 
 	style->colors.background = 0x285577FF;
 	style->colors.text = 0xFFFFFFFF;
@@ -301,6 +302,11 @@ bool apply_style(struct mako_style *target, const struct mako_style *style) {
 		target->spec.ignore_timeout = true;
 	}
 
+	if (style->spec.freeze) {
+		target->freeze = style->freeze;
+		target->spec.freeze = true;
+	}
+
 	if (style->spec.colors.background) {
 		target->colors.background = style->colors.background;
 		target->spec.colors.background = true;
@@ -623,6 +629,8 @@ static bool apply_style_option(struct mako_style *style, const char *name,
 	} else if (strcmp(name, "ignore-timeout") == 0) {
 		return spec->ignore_timeout =
 			parse_boolean(value, &style->ignore_timeout);
+	} else if (strcmp(name, "freeze") == 0) {
+		return spec->freeze = parse_boolean(value, &style->freeze);
 	} else if (strcmp(name, "group-by") == 0) {
 		return spec->group_criteria_spec =
 			parse_criteria_spec(value, &style->group_criteria_spec);
diff --git a/criteria.c b/criteria.c
index 9db3966..523a467 100644
--- a/criteria.c
+++ b/criteria.c
@@ -418,15 +418,56 @@ struct mako_criteria *global_criteria(struct mako_config *config) {
 	return criteria;
 }
 
-// Iterate through `criteria_list`, applying the style from each matching
+static void timespec_from_ms(struct timespec *t, long time_ms) {
+	static const long ms = 1000000;
+
+	t->tv_sec = time_ms / 1000;
+	t->tv_nsec = (time_ms % 1000) * ms;
+}
+
+static void timespec_add(struct timespec *t, struct timespec *u) {
+	static const long s = 1000000000;
+
+	t->tv_sec += u->tv_sec;
+	t->tv_nsec += u->tv_nsec;
+
+	if (t->tv_nsec >= s) {
+		t->tv_nsec -= s;
+		++t->tv_sec;
+	}
+}
+
+static void timespec_sub(struct timespec *t, struct timespec *u) {
+	static const long s = 1000000000;
+
+	t->tv_sec -= u->tv_sec;
+	t->tv_nsec += s;
+	t->tv_nsec -= u->tv_nsec;
+
+	if (t->tv_nsec >= s) {
+		t->tv_nsec -= s;
+	} else {
+		--t->tv_sec;
+	}
+}
+
+static void handle_notification_timer(void *data) {
+	struct mako_notification *notif = data;
+	struct mako_surface *surface = notif->surface;
+	notif->timer = NULL;
+
+	close_notification(notif, MAKO_NOTIFICATION_CLOSE_EXPIRED, true);
+	set_dirty(surface);
+}
+
+// Iterate through the criteria list, applying the style from each matching
 // criteria to `notif`. Returns the number of criteria that matched, or -1 if
 // a failure occurs.
-ssize_t apply_each_criteria(struct wl_list *criteria_list,
-		struct mako_notification *notif) {
+ssize_t apply_each_criteria(struct mako_state *state, struct mako_notification *notif) {
 	ssize_t match_count = 0;
 
 	struct mako_criteria *criteria;
-	wl_list_for_each(criteria, criteria_list, link) {
+	wl_list_for_each(criteria, &state->config.criteria, link) {
 		if (!match_criteria(criteria, notif)) {
 			continue;
 		}
@@ -447,6 +488,40 @@ ssize_t apply_each_criteria(struct wl_list *criteria_list,
 		}
 	}
 
+	int32_t expire_timeout = notif->requested_timeout;
+	if (expire_timeout < 0 || notif->style.ignore_timeout) {
+		expire_timeout = notif->style.default_timeout;
+	}
+	if (notif->frozen != notif->style.freeze) {
+		struct timespec now;
+		clock_gettime(CLOCK_MONOTONIC, &now);
+		if (notif->style.freeze) {
+			notif->froze_at = now;
+		} else {
+			timespec_sub(&now, &notif->froze_at);
+			timespec_add(&notif->at, &now);
+		}
+		notif->frozen = notif->style.freeze;
+	}
+	if (notif->frozen) {
+		expire_timeout = 0;
+	}
+
+	if (expire_timeout > 0) {
+		struct timespec at = notif->at, delta;
+		timespec_from_ms(&delta, expire_timeout);
+		timespec_add(&at, &delta);
+		if (notif->timer) {
+			notif->timer->at = at;
+		} else {
+			notif->timer = add_event_loop_timer(&state->event_loop, &at,
+				handle_notification_timer, notif);
+		}
+	} else if (notif->timer) {
+		destroy_timer(notif->timer);
+		notif->timer = NULL;
+	}
+
 	if (!notif->surface) {
 		notif->surface = create_surface(notif->state, notif->style.output,
 			notif->style.layer, notif->style.anchor);
diff --git a/dbus/mako.c b/dbus/mako.c
index 4c95881..8f3c874 100644
--- a/dbus/mako.c
+++ b/dbus/mako.c
@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@ static void reapply_config(struct mako_state *state) {
 
 		finish_style(&notif->style);
 		init_empty_style(&notif->style);
-		apply_each_criteria(&state->config.criteria, notif);
+		apply_each_criteria(state, notif);
 
 		// Having to do this for every single notification really hurts... but
 		// it does do The Right Thing (tm).
diff --git a/dbus/xdg.c b/dbus/xdg.c
index 1f91431..650dff7 100644
--- a/dbus/xdg.c
+++ b/dbus/xdg.c
@@ -81,15 +81,6 @@ static int handle_get_capabilities(sd_bus_message *msg, void *data,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static void handle_notification_timer(void *data) {
-	struct mako_notification *notif = data;
-	struct mako_surface *surface = notif->surface;
-	notif->timer = NULL;
-
-	close_notification(notif, MAKO_NOTIFICATION_CLOSE_EXPIRED, true);
-	set_dirty(surface);
-}
-
 static int handle_notify(sd_bus_message *msg, void *data,
 		sd_bus_error *ret_error) {
 	struct mako_state *state = data;
@@ -382,7 +373,7 @@ static int handle_notify(sd_bus_message *msg, void *data,
 		insert_notification(state, notif);
 	}
 
-	int match_count = apply_each_criteria(&state->config.criteria, notif);
+	int match_count = apply_each_criteria(state, notif);
 	if (match_count == -1) {
 		// We encountered an allocation failure or similar while applying
 		// criteria. The notification may be partially matched, but the worst
@@ -398,16 +389,6 @@ static int handle_notify(sd_bus_message *msg, void *data,
 		return -1;
 	}
 
-	int32_t expire_timeout = notif->requested_timeout;
-	if (expire_timeout < 0 || notif->style.ignore_timeout) {
-		expire_timeout = notif->style.default_timeout;
-	}
-
-	if (expire_timeout > 0) {
-		notif->timer = add_event_loop_timer(&state->event_loop, expire_timeout,
-			handle_notification_timer, notif);
-	}
-
 	if (notif->style.icons) {
 		notif->icon = create_icon(notif);
 	}
diff --git a/doc/mako.5.scd b/doc/mako.5.scd
index 91378ba..f931a69 100644
--- a/doc/mako.5.scd
+++ b/doc/mako.5.scd
@@ -408,6 +408,12 @@ associated command-line option.
 
 	Default: 0
 
+*freeze*=0|1
+	Whether to freeze this notification's active timeout, stopping it from
+	progressing. This can be used for pausing notifications while you're away.
+
+	Default: 0
+
 # COLORS
 
 Colors can be specified as _#RRGGBB_ or _#RRGGBBAA_.
diff --git a/event-loop.c b/event-loop.c
index 99c1f4a..92c627a 100644
--- a/event-loop.c
+++ b/event-loop.c
@@ -74,21 +74,6 @@ void finish_event_loop(struct mako_event_loop *loop) {
 	}
 }
 
-static void timespec_add(struct timespec *t, int delta_ms) {
-	static const long ms = 1000000, s = 1000000000;
-
-	int delta_ms_low = delta_ms % 1000;
-	int delta_s_high = delta_ms / 1000;
-
-	t->tv_sec += delta_s_high;
-
-	t->tv_nsec += (long)delta_ms_low * ms;
-	if (t->tv_nsec >= s) {
-		t->tv_nsec -= s;
-		++t->tv_sec;
-	}
-}
-
 static bool timespec_less(struct timespec *t1, struct timespec *t2) {
 	if (t1->tv_sec != t2->tv_sec) {
 		return t1->tv_sec < t2->tv_sec;
@@ -124,7 +109,7 @@ static void update_event_loop_timer(struct mako_event_loop *loop) {
 }
 
 struct mako_timer *add_event_loop_timer(struct mako_event_loop *loop,
-		int delay_ms, mako_event_loop_timer_func_t func, void *data) {
+		struct timespec *at, mako_event_loop_timer_func_t func, void *data) {
 	struct mako_timer *timer = calloc(1, sizeof(struct mako_timer));
 	if (timer == NULL) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "allocation failed\n");
@@ -133,10 +118,9 @@ struct mako_timer *add_event_loop_timer(struct mako_event_loop *loop,
 	timer->event_loop = loop;
 	timer->func = func;
 	timer->user_data = data;
-	wl_list_insert(&loop->timers, &timer->link);
+	timer->at = *at;
 
-	clock_gettime(CLOCK_MONOTONIC, &timer->at);
-	timespec_add(&timer->at, delay_ms);
+	wl_list_insert(&loop->timers, &timer->link);
 
 	update_event_loop_timer(loop);
 	return timer;
diff --git a/include/config.h b/include/config.h
index 013923a..1295b83 100644
--- a/include/config.h
+++ b/include/config.h
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ struct mako_style_spec {
 	bool width, height, outer_margin, margin, padding, border_size, border_radius, font,
 		markup, format, text_alignment, actions, default_timeout, ignore_timeout,
 		icons, max_icon_size, icon_path, group_criteria_spec, invisible, history,
-		icon_location, max_visible, layer, output, anchor;
+		icon_location, max_visible, layer, output, anchor, freeze;
 	struct {
 		bool background, text, border, progress;
 	} colors;
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ struct mako_style {
 	bool actions;
 	int default_timeout; // in ms
 	bool ignore_timeout;
+	bool freeze;
 
 	struct {
 		uint32_t background;
diff --git a/include/criteria.h b/include/criteria.h
index 2f03514..58c36ef 100644
--- a/include/criteria.h
+++ b/include/criteria.h
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #include <wayland-client.h>
 #include "config.h"
 #include "types.h"
+#include "mako.h"
 
 struct mako_config;
 struct mako_notification;
@@ -53,8 +54,7 @@ bool parse_criteria(const char *string, struct mako_criteria *criteria);
 bool apply_criteria_field(struct mako_criteria *criteria, char *token);
 
 struct mako_criteria *global_criteria(struct mako_config *config);
-ssize_t apply_each_criteria(struct wl_list *criteria_list,
-		struct mako_notification *notif);
+ssize_t apply_each_criteria(struct mako_state *state, struct mako_notification *notif);
 struct mako_criteria *create_criteria_from_notification(
 		struct mako_notification *notif, struct mako_criteria_spec *spec);
 
diff --git a/include/event-loop.h b/include/event-loop.h
index 95c8d36..cd63e98 100644
--- a/include/event-loop.h
+++ b/include/event-loop.h
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ bool init_event_loop(struct mako_event_loop *loop, sd_bus *bus,
 void finish_event_loop(struct mako_event_loop *loop);
 int run_event_loop(struct mako_event_loop *loop);
 struct mako_timer *add_event_loop_timer(struct mako_event_loop *loop,
-	int delay_ms, mako_event_loop_timer_func_t func, void *data);
+	struct timespec *at, mako_event_loop_timer_func_t func, void *data);
 
 void destroy_timer(struct mako_timer *timer);
 
diff --git a/include/notification.h b/include/notification.h
index 9a395ba..5130898 100644
--- a/include/notification.h
+++ b/include/notification.h
@@ -48,6 +48,9 @@ struct mako_notification {
 
 	struct mako_hotspot hotspot;
 	struct mako_timer *timer;
+	struct timespec at;
+	struct timespec froze_at;
+	bool frozen;
 };
 
 struct mako_action {
diff --git a/notification.c b/notification.c
index 8c0c8a7..5fc2e6c 100644
--- a/notification.c
+++ b/notification.c
@@ -66,6 +66,9 @@ void reset_notification(struct mako_notification *notif) {
 
 	destroy_icon(notif->icon);
 	notif->icon = NULL;
+
+	clock_gettime(CLOCK_MONOTONIC, &notif->at);
+	notif->frozen = false;
 }
 
 struct mako_notification *create_notification(struct mako_state *state) {
diff --git a/render.c b/render.c
index 5b68632..44b78a0 100644
--- a/render.c
+++ b/render.c
@@ -355,7 +355,7 @@ void render(struct mako_surface *surface, struct pool_buffer *buffer, int scale,
 		// Immediately before rendering we need to re-match all of the criteria
 		// so that matches against the anchor and output work even if the
 		// output was automatically assigned by the compositor.
-		int rematch_count = apply_each_criteria(&state->config.criteria, notif);
+		int rematch_count = apply_each_criteria(state, notif);
 		if (rematch_count == -1) {
 			// We encountered an allocation failure or similar while applying
 			// criteria. The notification may be partially matched, but the
@@ -427,7 +427,7 @@ void render(struct mako_surface *surface, struct pool_buffer *buffer, int scale,
 		struct mako_notification *hidden_notif = create_notification(state);
 		hidden_notif->surface = surface;
 		hidden_notif->hidden = true;
-		apply_each_criteria(&state->config.criteria, hidden_notif);
+		apply_each_criteria(state, hidden_notif);
 
 		struct mako_style *style = &hidden_notif->style;