diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 89bcc255..0292d52c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ formatting tools, and some Language Server Protocol and `tsserver` features.
     5. [How can I show errors or warnings in my statusline?](#faq-statusline)
     6. [How can I show errors or warnings in my lightline?](#faq-lightline)
     7. [How can I change the format for echo messages?](#faq-echo-format)
-    8. [How can I execute some code when ALE stops linting?](#faq-autocmd)
+    8. [How can I execute some code when ALE starts or stops linting?](#faq-autocmd)
     9. [How can I navigate between errors quickly?](#faq-navigation)
     10. [How can I run linters only when I save files?](#faq-lint-on-save)
     11. [How can I use the quickfix list instead of the loclist?](#faq-quickfix)
@@ -493,15 +493,17 @@ Will give you:
 
 <a name="faq-autocmd"></a>
 
-### 5.viii. How can I execute some code when ALE stops linting?
+### 5.viii. How can I execute some code when ALE starts or stops linting?
 
 ALE runs its own [autocmd](http://vimdoc.sourceforge.net/htmldoc/autocmd.html)
-event whenever has a linter has been successfully executed and processed. This
-autocmd event can be used to call arbitrary functions after ALE stops linting.
+events whenever has a linter is started and has been successfully executed and
+processed. This autocmd event can be used to call arbitrary functions before and
+after ALE stops linting.
 
 ```vim
 augroup YourGroup
     autocmd!
+    autocmd User ALEStartLint call YourFunction()
     autocmd User ALELint call YourFunction()
 augroup END
 ```
diff --git a/autoload/ale/engine.vim b/autoload/ale/engine.vim
index 150b53c1..895544fe 100644
--- a/autoload/ale/engine.vim
+++ b/autoload/ale/engine.vim
@@ -556,6 +556,8 @@ function! s:RunJob(options) abort
         \   'output': [],
         \   'next_chain_index': l:next_chain_index,
         \}
+
+        silent doautocmd <nomodeline> User ALEStartLint
     endif
 
     if g:ale_history_enabled
diff --git a/doc/ale.txt b/doc/ale.txt
index 8e8f5f4f..e45cfa92 100644
--- a/doc/ale.txt
+++ b/doc/ale.txt
@@ -2196,6 +2196,12 @@ ALELint                                                       *ALELint-autocmd*
   The autocmd commands are run with |:silent|, so |:unsilent| is required for
   echoing messges.
 
+
+ALEStartLint                                             *ALEStartLint-autocmd*
+
+  This |User| autocommand is triggered by ALE right after it started a new
+  linting job.
+
 ===============================================================================
 10. Special Thanks                                         *ale-special-thanks*
 
diff --git a/test/test_alelint_autocmd.vader b/test/test_alelint_autocmd.vader
index 4503005b..bf96abfb 100644
--- a/test/test_alelint_autocmd.vader
+++ b/test/test_alelint_autocmd.vader
@@ -1,18 +1,41 @@
 Before:
+  let g:start = 0
   let g:success = 0
   let g:ale_run_synchronously = 1
 
+  function! TestCallback(buffer, output)
+    return [{
+    \ 'lnum': 1,
+    \ 'col': 3,
+    \ 'text': 'baz boz',
+    \}]
+  endfunction
+
+  call ale#linter#Define('foobar', {
+  \ 'name': 'testlinter',
+  \ 'callback': 'TestCallback',
+  \ 'executable': has('win32') ? 'cmd' : 'true',
+  \ 'command': has('win32') ? 'echo' : 'true',
+  \})
+  "let g:ale_linters = {'foobar': ['lint_file_linter']}
+
 After:
   let g:ale_run_synchronously = 0
   let g:ale_buffer_info = {}
+  let g:ale_linters = {}
+  call ale#linter#Reset()
+  delfunction TestCallback
   augroup! VaderTest
 
 Execute (Run a lint cycle, and check that a variable is set in the autocmd):
+  set filetype=foobar
   augroup VaderTest
     autocmd!
-    autocmd User ALELint let g:success = 1
+    autocmd User ALEStartLint let g:start = 1
+    autocmd User ALELint      let g:success = 1
   augroup end
 
   call ale#Lint()
 
+  AssertEqual g:start, 1
   AssertEqual g:success, 1