diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9651aab4..10eb59ed 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ The following abbreviations are used in the detail view:
 | atool | list and extract archives |
 | vidir from moreutils | batch rename, move, delete dir entries |
 | vlock (Linux) | terminal locker |
-| $EDITOR | edit files (fallback vi) |
+| $EDITOR ($VISUAL, if defined) | edit files (fallback vi) |
 | $PAGER | page through files (fallback less) |
 | $SHELL | spawn a shell, run script (fallback sh) |
 
diff --git a/nnn.1 b/nnn.1
index 451318ab..4e303154 100644
--- a/nnn.1
+++ b/nnn.1
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ In this mode it's possible to
 .Pp
 Pressing \fI^Y\fR again copies the paths to clipboard and exits the multi-copy mode.
 .Sh ENVIRONMENT
-The SHELL, EDITOR and PAGER environment variables take precedence
+The SHELL, EDITOR (VISUAL, if defined) and PAGER environment variables take precedence
 when dealing with the !, e and p commands respectively.
 .Pp
 \fBNNN_BMS:\fR bookmark string as \fIkey:location\fR pairs (max 10) separated by
diff --git a/nnn.c b/nnn.c
index 740041dc..1c3f7a7b 100644
--- a/nnn.c
+++ b/nnn.c
@@ -2038,7 +2038,9 @@ show_help(char *path)
 		dprintf(fd, "SHELL: %s\n", getenv("SHELL"));
 	if (getenv("SHLVL"))
 		dprintf(fd, "SHLVL: %s\n", getenv("SHLVL"));
-	if (getenv("EDITOR"))
+	if (getenv("VISUAL"))
+		dprintf(fd, "VISUAL: %s\n", getenv("VISUAL"));
+	else if (getenv("EDITOR"))
 		dprintf(fd, "EDITOR: %s\n", getenv("EDITOR"));
 	if (getenv("PAGER"))
 		dprintf(fd, "PAGER: %s\n", getenv("PAGER"));
@@ -3237,6 +3239,8 @@ nochange:
 			goto begin;
 		case SEL_RUNARG:
 			run = xgetenv(env, run);
+			if ((!run || !run[0]) && (xstrcmp("VISUAL", env) == 0))
+				run = editor ? editor : xgetenv("EDITOR", "vi");
 			spawn(run, dents[cur].name, NULL, path, F_NORMAL);
 			break;
 #ifdef __linux__
@@ -3396,8 +3400,11 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 #endif
 
 	/* Edit text in EDITOR, if opted */
-	if (getenv("NNN_USE_EDITOR"))
-		editor = xgetenv("EDITOR", "vi");
+	if (getenv("NNN_USE_EDITOR")) {
+		editor = xgetenv("VISUAL", NULL);
+		if (!editor)
+			editor = xgetenv("EDITOR", "vi");
+	}
 
 	/* Set player if not set already */
 	if (!player)
diff --git a/nnn.h b/nnn.h
index 680200f2..fa925233 100644
--- a/nnn.h
+++ b/nnn.h
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ static struct key bindings[] = {
 	/* Run a custom script */
 	{ 'R',            SEL_RUNSCRIPT, "sh",   "SHELL" },
 	/* Run command with argument */
-	{ 'e',            SEL_RUNARG,    "vi",   "EDITOR" },
+	{ 'e',            SEL_RUNARG,    "",     "VISUAL" },
 	{ 'p',            SEL_RUNARG,    "less", "PAGER" },
 #ifdef __linux__
 	/* Lock screen */