diff --git a/offlineimap.conf b/offlineimap.conf
index 69ede92..6b61e64 100644
--- a/offlineimap.conf
+++ b/offlineimap.conf
@@ -295,6 +295,19 @@ remoterepository = RemoteExample
 #postsynchook = notifysync.sh
 
 
+# This option stands in the [Account Test] section.
+#
+# You can specify a newmail hook to execute an external command upon receipt
+# of new mail in the INBOX.
+#
+# This example plays a sound file of your chosing when new mail arrives.
+#
+# This feature is experimental.
+#
+#newmail_hook = lambda: os.sytem("cvlc --play-and-exit /path/to/sound/file.mp3" +
+#				 " > /dev/null 2>&1")
+
+
 # This option stands in the [Account Test] section.
 #
 # OfflineImap caches the state of the synchronisation to e.g. be able to
diff --git a/offlineimap/folder/Base.py b/offlineimap/folder/Base.py
index 7957b83..d81f3ef 100644
--- a/offlineimap/folder/Base.py
+++ b/offlineimap/folder/Base.py
@@ -40,6 +40,11 @@ class BaseFolder(object):
         # Top level dir name is always ''
         self.root = None
         self.name = name if not name == self.getsep() else ''
+        self.newmail_hook = None
+        # Only set the newmail_hook if the IMAP folder is named 'INBOX'
+        if self.name == 'INBOX':
+            self.newmail_hook = repository.newmail_hook
+        self.have_newmail = False
         self.repository = repository
         self.visiblename = repository.nametrans(name)
         # In case the visiblename becomes '.' or '/' (top-level) we use
@@ -781,6 +786,9 @@ class BaseFolder(object):
                     # Got new UID, change the local uid.
                 # Save uploaded status in the statusfolder
                 statusfolder.savemessage(new_uid, message, flags, rtime)
+                # Check whether the mail has been seen
+                if 'S' not in flags:
+                    self.have_newmail = True
             elif new_uid == 0:
                 # Message was stored to dstfolder, but we can't find it's UID
                 # This means we can't link current message to the one created
@@ -817,6 +825,9 @@ class BaseFolder(object):
 
         This function checks and protects us from action in dryrun mode."""
 
+        # We have no new mail yet
+        self.have_newmail = False
+
         threads = []
 
         copylist = filter(lambda uid: not statusfolder.uidexists(uid),
@@ -854,6 +865,11 @@ class BaseFolder(object):
         for thread in threads:
             thread.join()
 
+        # Execute new mail hook if we have new mail
+        if self.have_newmail:
+            if self.newmail_hook != None:
+                self.newmail_hook();
+
     def __syncmessagesto_delete(self, dstfolder, statusfolder):
         """Pass 2: Remove locally deleted messages on dst.
 
diff --git a/offlineimap/repository/Base.py b/offlineimap/repository/Base.py
index 0cf44f8..adae16d 100644
--- a/offlineimap/repository/Base.py
+++ b/offlineimap/repository/Base.py
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ class BaseRepository(CustomConfig.ConfigHelperMixin, object):
         self.folderfilter = lambda foldername: 1
         self.folderincludes = []
         self.foldersort = None
+        self.newmail_hook = None
         if self.config.has_option(self.getsection(), 'nametrans'):
             self.nametrans = self.localeval.eval(
                 self.getconf('nametrans'), {'re': re})
diff --git a/offlineimap/repository/IMAP.py b/offlineimap/repository/IMAP.py
index 68c8e33..6f8d829 100644
--- a/offlineimap/repository/IMAP.py
+++ b/offlineimap/repository/IMAP.py
@@ -36,6 +36,11 @@ class IMAPRepository(BaseRepository):
         self._host = None
         self.imapserver = imapserver.IMAPServer(self)
         self.folders = None
+        # Only set the newmail_hook in an IMAP repository.
+        if self.config.has_option(self.getsection(), 'newmail_hook'):
+            self.newmail_hook = self.localeval.eval(
+                self.getconf('newmail_hook'))
+
         if self.getconf('sep', None):
             self.ui.info("The 'sep' setting is being ignored for IMAP "
                          "repository '%s' (it's autodetected)"% self)