diff --git a/plugin/syntastic.vim b/plugin/syntastic.vim
index 780977b5..74d109b0 100644
--- a/plugin/syntastic.vim
+++ b/plugin/syntastic.vim
@@ -21,22 +21,6 @@ runtime! plugin/syntastic/*.vim
 
 let s:running_windows = has("win16") || has("win32")
 
-if !exists("g:syntastic_enable_balloons")
-    let g:syntastic_enable_balloons = 1
-endif
-if !has('balloon_eval')
-    let g:syntastic_enable_balloons = 0
-endif
-
-if !exists("g:syntastic_enable_highlighting")
-    let g:syntastic_enable_highlighting = 1
-endif
-
-" highlighting requires getmatches introduced in 7.1.040
-if v:version < 701 || (v:version == 701 && !has('patch040'))
-    let g:syntastic_enable_highlighting = 0
-endif
-
 if !exists("g:syntastic_echo_current_error")
     let g:syntastic_echo_current_error = 1
 endif
@@ -70,9 +54,9 @@ if !exists("g:syntastic_loc_list_height")
 endif
 
 let s:registry = g:SyntasticRegistry.Instance()
-let s:signer = g:SyntasticSigner.New()
-call s:signer.SetUpSignStyles()
+let s:notifiers = g:SyntasticNotifiers.New()
 let s:modemap = g:SyntasticModeMap.Instance()
+let s:old_line = -1
 
 function! s:CompleteCheckerName(argLead, cmdLine, cursorPos)
     let checker_names = []
@@ -93,7 +77,7 @@ highlight link SyntasticWarning SpellCap
 
 augroup syntastic
     if g:syntastic_echo_current_error
-        autocmd cursormoved * call s:EchoCurrentError()
+        autocmd CursorMoved * call s:EchoCurrentError()
     endif
 
     autocmd BufReadPost * if g:syntastic_check_on_open | call s:UpdateErrors(1) | endif
@@ -118,17 +102,7 @@ function! s:UpdateErrors(auto_invoked, ...)
         endif
     end
 
-    if g:syntastic_enable_balloons
-        call s:RefreshBalloons()
-    endif
-
-    if g:syntastic_enable_signs
-        call s:signer.refreshSigns(s:LocList())
-    endif
-
-    if g:syntastic_enable_highlighting
-        call s:HighlightErrors()
-    endif
+    call s:notifiers.refresh(s:LocList())
 
     let loclist = s:LocList()
     if g:syntastic_always_populate_loc_list && loclist.hasErrorsOrWarningsToDisplay()
@@ -172,6 +146,7 @@ endfunction
 "clear the loc list for the buffer
 function! s:ClearCache()
     unlet! b:syntastic_loclist
+    let s:old_line = -1
 endfunction
 
 function! s:CurrentFiletypes()
@@ -242,58 +217,6 @@ function! s:HideLocList()
     endif
 endfunction
 
-"highlight the current errors using matchadd()
-"
-"The function `Syntastic_{filetype}_{checker}_GetHighlightRegex` is used
-"to override default highlighting.  This function must take one arg (an
-"error item) and return a regex to match that item in the buffer.
-function! s:HighlightErrors()
-    call s:ClearErrorHighlights()
-    let loclist = s:LocList()
-
-    let fts = substitute(&ft, '-', '_', 'g')
-    for ft in split(fts, '\.')
-
-        for item in loclist.filteredRaw()
-            let group = item['type'] == 'E' ? 'SyntasticError' : 'SyntasticWarning'
-
-            if has_key(item, 'hl')
-                call matchadd(group, '\%' . item['lnum'] . 'l' . item['hl'])
-            elseif get(item, 'col')
-                let lastcol = col([item['lnum'], '$'])
-                let lcol = min([lastcol, item['col']])
-
-                "a bug in vim can sometimes cause there to be no 'vcol' key,
-                "so check for its existence
-                let coltype = has_key(item, 'vcol') && item['vcol'] ? 'v' : 'c'
-
-                call matchadd(group, '\%' . item['lnum'] . 'l\%' . lcol . coltype)
-            endif
-        endfor
-    endfor
-endfunction
-
-"remove all error highlights from the window
-function! s:ClearErrorHighlights()
-    for match in getmatches()
-        if stridx(match['group'], 'Syntastic') == 0
-            call matchdelete(match['id'])
-        endif
-    endfor
-endfunction
-
-"set up error ballons for the current set of errors
-function! s:RefreshBalloons()
-    let b:syntastic_balloons = {}
-    let loclist = s:LocList()
-    if loclist.hasErrorsOrWarningsToDisplay()
-        for i in loclist.filteredRaw()
-            let b:syntastic_balloons[i['lnum']] = i['text']
-        endfor
-        set beval bexpr=SyntasticErrorBalloonExpr()
-    endif
-endfunction
-
 "print as much of a:msg as possible without "Press Enter" prompt appearing
 function! s:WideMsg(msg)
     let old_ruler = &ruler
@@ -321,23 +244,18 @@ endfunction
 
 "echo out the first error we find for the current line in the cmd window
 function! s:EchoCurrentError()
+    let l = line('.')
+    if l == s:old_line
+        return
+    endif
+    let s:old_line = l
+
     let loclist = s:LocList()
-    "If we have an error or warning at the current line, show it
-    let errors = loclist.filter({'lnum': line("."), "type": 'e'})
-    let warnings = loclist.filter({'lnum': line("."), "type": 'w'})
-
-    let b:syntastic_echoing_error = len(errors) || len(warnings)
-    if len(errors)
-        return s:WideMsg(errors[0]['text'])
-    endif
-    if len(warnings)
-        return s:WideMsg(warnings[0]['text'])
-    endif
-
-    "Otherwise, clear the status line
-    if b:syntastic_echoing_error
+    let messages = loclist.messages()
+    if has_key(messages, l)
+        return s:WideMsg(messages[l])
+    else
         echo
-        let b:syntastic_echoing_error = 0
     endif
 endfunction
 
@@ -484,14 +402,6 @@ function! SyntasticMake(options)
     return errors
 endfunction
 
-"get the error balloon for the current mouse position
-function! SyntasticErrorBalloonExpr()
-    if !exists('b:syntastic_balloons')
-        return ''
-    endif
-    return get(b:syntastic_balloons, v:beval_lnum, '')
-endfunction
-
 "take a list of errors and add default values to them from a:options
 function! SyntasticAddToErrors(errors, options)
     for i in range(0, len(a:errors)-1)
diff --git a/plugin/syntastic/balloons.vim b/plugin/syntastic/balloons.vim
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..78b1ceb6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugin/syntastic/balloons.vim
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_notifier_balloons")
+    finish
+endif
+let g:loaded_syntastic_notifier_balloons=1
+
+if !exists("g:syntastic_enable_balloons")
+    let g:syntastic_enable_balloons = 1
+endif
+
+if !has('balloon_eval')
+    let g:syntastic_enable_balloons = 0
+endif
+
+let g:SyntasticNotifierBalloons = {}
+
+" Public methods {{{1
+
+function! g:SyntasticNotifierBalloons.New()
+    let newObj = copy(self)
+    return newObj
+endfunction
+
+" Update the error balloons
+function! g:SyntasticNotifierBalloons.refresh(loclist)
+    let b:syntastic_balloons = {}
+    if a:loclist.hasErrorsOrWarningsToDisplay()
+        for i in a:loclist.filteredRaw()
+            if has_key(b:syntastic_balloons, i['lnum'])
+                let b:syntastic_balloons[i['lnum']] .= "\n" . i['text']
+            else
+                let b:syntastic_balloons[i['lnum']] = i['text']
+            endif
+        endfor
+        set beval bexpr=SyntasticNotifierBalloonsExpr()
+    endif
+endfunction
+
+" Private functions {{{1
+
+function! SyntasticNotifierBalloonsExpr()
+    if !exists('b:syntastic_balloons')
+        return ''
+    endif
+    return get(b:syntastic_balloons, v:beval_lnum, '')
+endfunction
+
+" vim: set sw=4 sts=4 et fdm=marker:
diff --git a/plugin/syntastic/highlighting.vim b/plugin/syntastic/highlighting.vim
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..61ce5b2c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugin/syntastic/highlighting.vim
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_notifier_highlighting")
+    finish
+endif
+let g:loaded_syntastic_notifier_highlighting=1
+
+if !exists("g:syntastic_enable_highlighting")
+    let g:syntastic_enable_highlighting = 1
+endif
+
+" Highlighting requires getmatches introduced in 7.1.040
+if v:version < 701 || (v:version == 701 && !has('patch040'))
+    let g:syntastic_enable_highlighting = 0
+endif
+
+let g:SyntasticNotifierHighlighting = {}
+
+" Public methods {{{1
+
+function! g:SyntasticNotifierHighlighting.New()
+    let newObj = copy(self)
+    return newObj
+endfunction
+
+" The function `Syntastic_{filetype}_{checker}_GetHighlightRegex` is used
+" to override default highlighting.  This function must take one arg (an
+" error item) and return a regex to match that item in the buffer.
+function! g:SyntasticNotifierHighlighting.refresh(loclist)
+    call self._reset()
+
+    let fts = substitute(&ft, '-', '_', 'g')
+    for ft in split(fts, '\.')
+
+        for item in a:loclist.filteredRaw()
+            let group = item['type'] == 'E' ? 'SyntasticError' : 'SyntasticWarning'
+
+            if has_key(item, 'hl')
+                call matchadd(group, '\%' . item['lnum'] . 'l' . item['hl'])
+            elseif get(item, 'col')
+                let lastcol = col([item['lnum'], '$'])
+                let lcol = min([lastcol, item['col']])
+
+                " a bug in vim can sometimes cause there to be no 'vcol' key,
+                " so check for its existence
+                let coltype = has_key(item, 'vcol') && item['vcol'] ? 'v' : 'c'
+
+                call matchadd(group, '\%' . item['lnum'] . 'l\%' . lcol . coltype)
+            endif
+        endfor
+    endfor
+endfunction
+
+" Private functions {{{1
+
+" Remove all error highlights from the window
+function! g:SyntasticNotifierHighlighting._reset()
+    for match in getmatches()
+        if stridx(match['group'], 'Syntastic') == 0
+            call matchdelete(match['id'])
+        endif
+    endfor
+endfunction
+
+" vim: set sw=4 sts=4 et fdm=marker:
diff --git a/plugin/syntastic/loclist.vim b/plugin/syntastic/loclist.vim
index 8f6f8037..db581028 100644
--- a/plugin/syntastic/loclist.vim
+++ b/plugin/syntastic/loclist.vim
@@ -63,13 +63,36 @@ function! g:SyntasticLoclist.errors()
     return self._cachedErrors
 endfunction
 
-function! SyntasticLoclist.warnings()
+function! g:SyntasticLoclist.warnings()
     if !exists("self._cachedWarnings")
         let self._cachedWarnings = self.filter({'type': "W"})
     endif
     return self._cachedWarnings
 endfunction
 
+" cache used by EchoCurrentError()
+function! g:SyntasticLoclist.messages()
+    if !exists("self._cachedMessages")
+        let self._cachedMessages = {}
+
+        for e in self.errors()
+            if !has_key(self._cachedMessages, e['lnum'])
+                let self._cachedMessages[e['lnum']] = e['text']
+            endif
+        endfor
+
+        if !self._quietWarnings
+            for e in self.warnings()
+                if !has_key(self._cachedMessages, e['lnum'])
+                    let self._cachedMessages[e['lnum']] = e['text']
+                endif
+            endfor
+        endif
+    endif
+
+    return self._cachedMessages
+endfunction
+
 "Filter the list and return new native loclist
 "e.g.
 "  .filter({'bufnr': 10, 'type': 'e'})
diff --git a/plugin/syntastic/notifiers.vim b/plugin/syntastic/notifiers.vim
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c865d3f4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugin/syntastic/notifiers.vim
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_notifiers")
+    finish
+endif
+let g:loaded_syntastic_notifiers=1
+
+let g:SyntasticNotifiers = {}
+
+let s:notifier_types = ['signs', 'balloons', 'highlighting']
+
+" Public methods {{{1
+
+function! g:SyntasticNotifiers.New()
+    let newObj = copy(self)
+
+    let newObj._notifier = {}
+    for type in s:notifier_types
+        let class = substitute(type, '.*', 'SyntasticNotifier\u&', '')
+        let newObj._notifier[type] = g:{class}.New()
+    endfor
+
+    let newObj._enabled_types = copy(s:notifier_types)
+
+    return newObj
+endfunction
+
+function! g:SyntasticNotifiers.refresh(loclist)
+    for type in self._enabled_types
+        if ( exists('b:syntastic_enable_'.type) ? b:syntastic_enable_{type} : g:syntastic_enable_{type} )
+            call self._notifier[type].refresh(a:loclist)
+        endif
+    endfor
+endfunction
+
+" vim: set sw=4 sts=4 et fdm=marker:
diff --git a/plugin/syntastic/signer.vim b/plugin/syntastic/signer.vim
index 0aefdc03..4388af5d 100644
--- a/plugin/syntastic/signer.vim
+++ b/plugin/syntastic/signer.vim
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
-if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_signer")
+if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_notifier_signs")
     finish
 endif
-let g:loaded_syntastic_signer=1
+let g:loaded_syntastic_notifier_signs=1
 
 if !exists("g:syntastic_enable_signs")
     let g:syntastic_enable_signs = 1
@@ -28,21 +28,40 @@ if !has('signs')
 endif
 
 
-"start counting sign ids at 5000, start here to hopefully avoid conflicting
-"with any other code that places signs (not sure if this precaution is
-"actually needed)
+" start counting sign ids at 5000, start here to hopefully avoid conflicting
+" with any other code that places signs (not sure if this precaution is
+" actually needed)
 let s:first_sign_id = 5000
 let s:next_sign_id = s:first_sign_id
 
-let g:SyntasticSigner = {}
+let g:SyntasticNotifierSigns = {}
 
-"Public methods {{{1
-function! g:SyntasticSigner.New()
+let s:setup_done = 0
+
+" Public methods {{{1
+
+function! g:SyntasticNotifierSigns.New()
     let newObj = copy(self)
+
+    if !s:setup_done
+        call self._setup()
+        let s:setup_done = 1
+    endif
+
     return newObj
 endfunction
 
-function! g:SyntasticSigner.SetUpSignStyles()
+" Update the error signs
+function! g:SyntasticNotifierSigns.refresh(loclist)
+    let old_signs = copy(self._bufSignIds())
+    call self._signErrors(a:loclist)
+    call self._removeSigns(old_signs)
+    let s:first_sign_id = s:next_sign_id
+endfunction
+
+" Private methods {{{1
+
+function! g:SyntasticNotifierSigns._setup()
     if has('signs')
         if !hlexists('SyntasticErrorSign')
             highlight link SyntasticErrorSign error
@@ -63,26 +82,20 @@ function! g:SyntasticSigner.SetUpSignStyles()
             highlight link SyntasticStyleWarningLine SyntasticWarningLine
         endif
 
-        "define the signs used to display syntax and style errors/warns
-        exe 'sign define SyntasticError text='.g:syntastic_error_symbol.' texthl=SyntasticErrorSign linehl=SyntasticErrorLine'
-        exe 'sign define SyntasticWarning text='.g:syntastic_warning_symbol.' texthl=SyntasticWarningSign linehl=SyntasticWarningLine'
-        exe 'sign define SyntasticStyleError text='.g:syntastic_style_error_symbol.' texthl=SyntasticStyleErrorSign linehl=SyntasticStyleErrorLine'
-        exe 'sign define SyntasticStyleWarning text='.g:syntastic_style_warning_symbol.' texthl=SyntasticStyleWarningSign linehl=SyntasticStyleWarningLine'
+        " define the signs used to display syntax and style errors/warns
+        exe 'sign define SyntasticError text=' . g:syntastic_error_symbol .
+            \ ' texthl=SyntasticErrorSign linehl=SyntasticErrorLine'
+        exe 'sign define SyntasticWarning text=' . g:syntastic_warning_symbol .
+            \ ' texthl=SyntasticWarningSign linehl=SyntasticWarningLine'
+        exe 'sign define SyntasticStyleError text=' . g:syntastic_style_error_symbol .
+            \ ' texthl=SyntasticStyleErrorSign linehl=SyntasticStyleErrorLine'
+        exe 'sign define SyntasticStyleWarning text=' . g:syntastic_style_warning_symbol .
+            \ ' texthl=SyntasticStyleWarningSign linehl=SyntasticStyleWarningLine'
     endif
 endfunction
 
-"update the error signs
-function! g:SyntasticSigner.refreshSigns(loclist)
-    let old_signs = copy(self._bufSignIds())
-    call self._signErrors(a:loclist)
-    call self._removeSigns(old_signs)
-    let s:first_sign_id = s:next_sign_id
-endfunction
-
-"Private methods {{{1
-"
-"place signs by all syntax errs in the buffer
-function! g:SyntasticSigner._signErrors(loclist)
+" Place signs by all syntax errs in the buffer
+function! g:SyntasticNotifierSigns._signErrors(loclist)
     let loclist = a:loclist
     if loclist.hasErrorsOrWarningsToDisplay()
 
@@ -111,9 +124,9 @@ function! g:SyntasticSigner._signErrors(loclist)
     endif
 endfunction
 
-"return true if the given error item is a warning that, if signed, would
-"potentially mask an error if displayed at the same time
-function! g:SyntasticSigner._warningMasksError(error, llist)
+" Return true if the given error item is a warning that, if signed, would
+" potentially mask an error if displayed at the same time
+function! g:SyntasticNotifierSigns._warningMasksError(error, llist)
     if a:error['type'] !=? 'w'
         return 0
     endif
@@ -122,16 +135,16 @@ function! g:SyntasticSigner._warningMasksError(error, llist)
     return len(loclist.filter({ 'type': "E", 'lnum': a:error['lnum'] })) > 0
 endfunction
 
-"remove the signs with the given ids from this buffer
-function! g:SyntasticSigner._removeSigns(ids)
+" Remove the signs with the given ids from this buffer
+function! g:SyntasticNotifierSigns._removeSigns(ids)
     for i in a:ids
         exec "sign unplace " . i
         call remove(self._bufSignIds(), index(self._bufSignIds(), i))
     endfor
 endfunction
 
-"get all the ids of the SyntaxError signs in the buffer
-function! g:SyntasticSigner._bufSignIds()
+" Get all the ids of the SyntaxError signs in the buffer
+function! g:SyntasticNotifierSigns._bufSignIds()
     if !exists("b:syntastic_sign_ids")
         let b:syntastic_sign_ids = []
     endif