diff --git a/docs/api.md b/docs/api.md
index 15f4bab..d2d0deb 100644
--- a/docs/api.md
+++ b/docs/api.md
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ Constructs a new JSONEditor.
     Enables a search box in the upper right corner of the JSONEditor. True by default. Only applicable when `mode` is 'tree', 'view', or 'form'.
   - `{Number} indentation`  
     Number of indentation spaces. 2 by default. Only applicable when `mode` is 'code' or 'text'.
+  - `{String} theme`  
+    Set the Ace editor theme, uses included 'ace/theme/jsoneditor' by default. Please note that only the default theme is included with jsoneditor, so if you specify another one you need to make sure it is loaded.
 
 - `{JSON} json`  
   Initial JSON data to be loaded into the JSONEditor. Alternatively, the method `JSONEditor.set(json)` can be used to load JSON data into the editor.
diff --git a/src/js/textmode.js b/src/js/textmode.js
index e412b42..d6a07b8 100644
--- a/src/js/textmode.js
+++ b/src/js/textmode.js
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ textmode.create = function (container, options) {
           'Falling back to plain text editor');
     }
   }
+  this.theme = options.theme || 'ace/theme/jsoneditor';
 
   var me = this;
   this.container = container;
@@ -117,7 +118,7 @@ textmode.create = function (container, options) {
     this.content.appendChild(this.editorDom);
 
     var editor = ace.edit(this.editorDom);
-    editor.setTheme('ace/theme/jsoneditor');
+    editor.setTheme(this.theme);
     editor.setShowPrintMargin(false);
     editor.setFontSize(13);
     editor.getSession().setMode('ace/mode/json');