diff --git a/doc/pacman.conf.5.txt b/doc/pacman.conf.5.txt
index 06ba81d4..690e3f48 100644
--- a/doc/pacman.conf.5.txt
+++ b/doc/pacman.conf.5.txt
@@ -68,6 +68,10 @@ Options
 	Instructs pacman to ignore any upgrades for this package when performing
 	a '\--sysupgrade'.
 
+*IgnoreGroup =* group ...::
+	Instructs pacman to ignore any upgrades for all packages in this
+	group when performing a '\--sysupgrade'.
+
 *Include =* path::
 	Include another config file. This file can include repositories or
 	general configuration  options.
diff --git a/lib/libalpm/alpm.h b/lib/libalpm/alpm.h
index 20d77876..f8558e1b 100644
--- a/lib/libalpm/alpm.h
+++ b/lib/libalpm/alpm.h
@@ -130,6 +130,10 @@ alpm_list_t *alpm_option_get_holdpkgs();
 void alpm_option_add_holdpkg(const char *pkg);
 void alpm_option_set_holdpkgs(alpm_list_t *holdpkgs);
 
+alpm_list_t *alpm_option_get_ignoregrps();
+void alpm_option_add_ignoregrp(const char *grp);
+void alpm_option_set_ignoregrps(alpm_list_t *ignoregrps);
+
 time_t alpm_option_get_upgradedelay();
 void alpm_option_set_upgradedelay(time_t delay);
 
diff --git a/lib/libalpm/handle.c b/lib/libalpm/handle.c
index af549498..78ac1171 100644
--- a/lib/libalpm/handle.c
+++ b/lib/libalpm/handle.c
@@ -100,6 +100,7 @@ void _alpm_handle_free(pmhandle_t *handle)
 	FREELIST(handle->noextract);
 	FREELIST(handle->ignorepkg);
 	FREELIST(handle->holdpkg);
+	FREELIST(handle->ignoregrp);
 	FREE(handle);
 }
 
@@ -211,6 +212,15 @@ alpm_list_t SYMEXPORT *alpm_option_get_holdpkgs()
 	return handle->holdpkg;
 }
 
+alpm_list_t SYMEXPORT *alpm_option_get_ignoregrps()
+{
+	if (handle == NULL) {
+		pm_errno = PM_ERR_HANDLE_NULL;
+		return NULL;
+	}
+	return handle->ignoregrp;
+}
+
 time_t SYMEXPORT alpm_option_get_upgradedelay()
 {
 	if (handle == NULL) {
@@ -461,6 +471,17 @@ void SYMEXPORT alpm_option_set_holdpkgs(alpm_list_t *holdpkgs)
 	if(holdpkgs) handle->holdpkg = holdpkgs;
 }
 
+void SYMEXPORT alpm_option_add_ignoregrp(const char *grp)
+{
+	handle->ignoregrp = alpm_list_add(handle->ignoregrp, strdup(grp));
+}
+
+void alpm_option_set_ignoregrps(alpm_list_t *ignoregrps)
+{
+	if(handle->ignoregrp) FREELIST(handle->ignoregrp);
+	if(ignoregrps) handle->ignoregrp = ignoregrps;
+}
+
 void SYMEXPORT alpm_option_set_upgradedelay(time_t delay)
 {
 	handle->upgradedelay = delay;
diff --git a/lib/libalpm/handle.h b/lib/libalpm/handle.h
index 0874ecd3..63a46884 100644
--- a/lib/libalpm/handle.h
+++ b/lib/libalpm/handle.h
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ typedef struct _pmhandle_t {
 	alpm_list_t *noextract;   /* List of packages NOT to extract */ /*TODO is this used?*/
 	alpm_list_t *ignorepkg;   /* List of packages to ignore */
 	alpm_list_t *holdpkg;     /* List of packages which 'hold' pacman */
+	alpm_list_t *ignoregrp;   /* List of groups to ignore */
 
 	/* options */
 	unsigned short usesyslog;    /* Use syslog instead of logfile? */ /* TODO move to frontend */
diff --git a/src/pacman/pacman.c b/src/pacman/pacman.c
index 9c650f21..2f916e2d 100644
--- a/src/pacman/pacman.c
+++ b/src/pacman/pacman.c
@@ -309,6 +309,7 @@ static int parseargs(int argc, char *argv[])
 		{"cachedir",   required_argument, 0, 1007},
 		{"asdeps",     no_argument,       0, 1008},
 		{"logfile",    required_argument, 0, 1009},
+		{"ignoregroup", required_argument, 0, 1010},
 		{0, 0, 0, 0}
 	};
 
@@ -369,6 +370,7 @@ static int parseargs(int argc, char *argv[])
 				}
 				config->have_logfile = 1;
 				break;
+			case 1010: alpm_option_add_ignoregrp(strdup(optarg)); break;
 			case 'A': config->op = (config->op != PM_OP_MAIN ? 0 : PM_OP_ADD); break;
 			case 'F':
 				config->op = (config->op != PM_OP_MAIN ? 0 : PM_OP_UPGRADE);
@@ -627,6 +629,19 @@ static int _parseconfig(const char *file, const char *givensection,
 						}
 						alpm_option_add_ignorepkg(p);
 						pm_printf(PM_LOG_DEBUG, "config: ignorepkg: %s\n", p);
+					} else if(strcmp(key, "IgnoreGroup") == 0 || strcmp(upperkey, "IGNOREGROUP") == 0) {
+						char *p = ptr;
+						char *q;
+
+						while((q = strchr(p, ' '))) {
+							*q = '\0';
+							alpm_option_add_ignoregrp(p);
+							pm_printf(PM_LOG_DEBUG, "config: ignoregroup: %s", p);
+							p = q;
+							p++;
+						}
+						alpm_option_add_ignoregrp(p);
+						pm_printf(PM_LOG_DEBUG, "config: ignoregroup: %s\n", p);
 					} else if(strcmp(key, "HoldPkg") == 0 || strcmp(upperkey, "HOLDPKG") == 0) {
 						char *p = ptr;
 						char *q;