diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b75c6a7..f8c85e4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -27,7 +27,10 @@ Plugin 'kdheepak/lazygit.vim'
 ### Usage
 
 ```vim
-" lazygit
+
+let g:lazygit_floating_window_winblend = 5 " transparency of floating window
+
+" setup mapping to call :LazyGit
 nnoremap <silent> <leader>lg :LazyGit<CR>
 ```
 
diff --git a/lua/lazygit.lua b/lua/lazygit.lua
index 4c0dd02..d2752ac 100644
--- a/lua/lazygit.lua
+++ b/lua/lazygit.lua
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 local api = vim.api
 local fn = vim.fn
 
+local OPTIONS = {}
+
 local function echom(message)
   api.nvim_command('echom "' .. tostring(message) .. '"')
 end
@@ -16,7 +18,7 @@ function open_floating_window()
     -- create a unlisted scratch buffer for the border
     local border_buffer = api.nvim_create_buf(false, true)
 
-    api.nvim_buf_set_option(buffer, 'bufhidden', 'hide')
+    api.nvim_buf_set_option(buffer, 'bufhidden', 'wipe')
     api.nvim_buf_set_option(buffer, 'filetype', 'lazygit')
 
     local columns = api.nvim_get_option("columns")
@@ -58,10 +60,11 @@ function open_floating_window()
     local border_window = api.nvim_open_win(border_buffer, true, border_opts)
     api.nvim_command('set winhl=Normal:Floating')
     local window = api.nvim_open_win(buffer, true, opts)
-    api.nvim_command('set winhl=Normal:Floating')
+
+    api.nvim_command('set winblend=' .. OPTIONS.lazygit_floating_window_winblend)
+
     -- use autocommand to ensure that the border_buffer closes at the same time as the main buffer
     api.nvim_command('au BufWipeout <buffer> execute "silent bwipeout!"' .. border_buffer)
-    api.nvim_command('au BufLeave <buffer> hide')
     return window
 end
 
@@ -102,6 +105,11 @@ function lazygit()
     exec_lazygit_command()
 end
 
+function setup()
+    OPTIONS.lazygit_floating_window_winblend = api.nvim_get_var("lazygit_floating_window_winblend")
+end
+
 return {
+    setup = setup,
     lazygit = lazygit,
 }
diff --git a/plugin/lazygit.vim b/plugin/lazygit.vim
index ca206ae..c42d471 100644
--- a/plugin/lazygit.vim
+++ b/plugin/lazygit.vim
@@ -7,6 +7,12 @@ set cpoptions&vim
 
 """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
 
+if !exists('g:lazygit_floating_window_winblend')
+    let g:lazygit_floating_window_winblend = 5
+endif
+
+lua require 'lazygit'.setup()
+
 let s:lazygit_lua_loc =  expand('<sfile>:h:r') . '/../lua/'
 
 exe "lua package.path = package.path .. ';". s:lazygit_lua_loc."?/init.lua'"