diff --git a/doc/airline.txt b/doc/airline.txt
index 01ce922..a74999f 100644
--- a/doc/airline.txt
+++ b/doc/airline.txt
@@ -65,6 +65,17 @@ values):
   let g:airline_powerline_fonts=0
 <
 
+* define the set of match queries which excludes a window from having its
+  statusline modified
+>
+  let g:airline_exclude_windows = [] " see source for current list
+<
+
+* define the set of filetypes which are excluded from having its window
+  statusline modified
+>
+  let g:airline_exclude_filetypes = [] " see source for current list
+<
 ==============================================================================
 CUSTOMIZATION                                        *airline-customization*
 
@@ -79,6 +90,7 @@ well as the powerline font glyths
   let g:airline_right_sep = '◀'
   let g:airline_linecolumn_prefix = '␊ '
   let g:airline_linecolumn_prefix = '␤ '
+  let g:airline_linecolumn_prefix = '¶ '
   let g:airline_fugitive_prefix = '⎇ '
 
   " powerline symbols
diff --git a/plugin/airline.vim b/plugin/airline.vim
index ccf1e41..161d472 100644
--- a/plugin/airline.vim
+++ b/plugin/airline.vim
@@ -30,6 +30,12 @@ endif
 if !exists('g:airline_modified_detection')
   let g:airline_modified_detection=1
 endif
+if !exists('g:airline_exclude_windows')
+  let g:airline_exclude_windows = ['DebuggerWatch','DebuggerStack','DebuggerStatus']
+endif
+if !exists('g:airline_exclude_filetypes')
+  let g:airline_exclude_filetypes = ['qf','netrw','diff','undotree','gundo','nerdtree','tagbar']
+endif
 
 set laststatus=2
 
@@ -82,8 +88,22 @@ function! s:highlight(mode, keys)
   endfor
 endfunction
 
+function! s:is_excluded_window()
+  for matchft in g:airline_exclude_filetypes
+    if matchft ==# &ft
+      return 1
+    endif
+  endfor
+  for matchw in g:airline_exclude_windows
+    if matchstr(expand('%'), matchw) ==# matchw
+      return 1
+    endif
+  endfor
+  return 0
+endfunction
+
 function! s:update_statusline(active)
-  if &ft == 'qf' || matchstr(expand('%'), 'NERD') ==# 'NERD' || matchstr(expand('%'), 'Tagbar') ==# 'Tagbar'
+  if s:is_excluded_window()
     return
   endif