diff --git a/example/plugins/signals.py b/example/plugins/signals.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e08a5ee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/example/plugins/signals.py
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+"""Example file for signals."""
+
+from pyiab.plugins import plugin_class
+from pyaib.components import observe, awaits_signal
+from pyaib.signals import emit_signal, await_signal
+import re
+
+@plugin_class('names')
+class Names:
+    """This plugin provides a command ('names') that outputs a list of all
+    nicks currently in the channel."""
+    def __init__(self, irc_c, config):
+        print("Names plugin loaded")
+
+    @keyword('names')
+    def get_list_of_names(self, irc_c, message, trigger, args, kwargs):
+        # Sends a NAMES request to the server, to get a list of nicks for the
+        # current channel.
+        # Issue the NAMES request:
+        irc_c.RAW("NAMES %s" % message.channel)
+        # The request has been sent.
+        # pyaib is asynchronous, so another function will recieve the response
+        # from this request.
+        # That function must send the data here via a signal.
+        try:
+            # Wait for the signal (up to 10 seconds).
+            response = await_signal(irc_c, 'NAMES_RESPONSE', timeout=10.0)
+            # await_signal returns whatever data we choose to send, or True.
+        except TimeoutError:
+            message.reply("The request timed out.")
+            return
+        # The NAMES response is now saved.
+        channel = response[0]
+        names = response[1]
+        assert channel == message.channel
+        message.reply("List of channel members: %s" % ", ".join(names))
+        # Warning, this will annoy everyone in the channel.
+
+    @observe('IRC_MSG_353') # 353 indicates a NAMES response.
+    def recieve_names(self, irc_c, message):
+        # The response is in message.args as a single string.
+        # "MYNICK = #channel :nick1 nick2 nick3"
+        # Split that up into individual names:
+        response = re.split(r"\s:?", message.args.strip())[2:]
+        channel = response[0]
+        names = response[1:]
+        # Great, we've caught the NAMES response.
+        # Now send it back to the function that wanted it.
+        emit_signal(irc_c, 'NAMES_RESPONSE', data=(channel, names))
+        # The signal name can be anything, so long as emit_signal and
+        # await_signal use the same one.
diff --git a/pyaib/components.py b/pyaib/components.py
index b86fbb0..1b73d97 100644
--- a/pyaib/components.py
+++ b/pyaib/components.py
@@ -109,6 +109,15 @@ def wrapper(func):
 handles = watches
 
 
+def awaits_signal(*signals):
+    """Define a series of signals to later be subscribed to"""
+    def wrapper(func):
+        splugs = _get_plugs(func, 'signals')
+        splugs.extend([signal for signal in signals if signal not in splugs])
+        return func
+    return wrapper
+
+
 class _Ignore(EasyDecorator):
     """Only pass if triggers is from user not ignored"""
     def wrapper(dec, irc_c, msg, *args):
@@ -335,6 +344,9 @@ def _install_hooks(self, context, hooked_methods):
             elif kind == 'parsers':
                 for name, chain in args:
                     self._add_parsers(method, name, chain)
+            elif kind == 'signals':
+                for signal in args:
+                    context.signals(signal).observe(method)
 
     def _add_parsers(self, method, name, chain):
         """ Handle Message parser adding and chaining """
diff --git a/pyaib/ircbot.py b/pyaib/ircbot.py
index 6bac5f8..4a6570f 100644
--- a/pyaib/ircbot.py
+++ b/pyaib/ircbot.py
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 from .config import Config
 from .events import Events
 from .timers import Timers
+from .signals import Signals
 from .components import ComponentManager
 from . import irc
 
@@ -54,6 +55,7 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kargs):
         #Install most basic fundamental functionality
         install('events', self._loadComponent(Events, False))
         install('timers', self._loadComponent(Timers, False))
+        install('signals', self._loadComponent(Signals, False))
 
         #Load the ComponentManager and load components
         autoload = ['triggers', 'channels', 'plugins']  # Force these to load
diff --git a/pyaib/signals.py b/pyaib/signals.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..234f655
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pyaib/signals.py
@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+
+import collections
+import gevent.event
+import gevent.queue
+import gevent
+
+from . import irc
+
+def emit_signal(irc_c, name, *, data=None):
+    """Emits the signal of the given name."""
+    if not isinstance(irc_c, irc.Context):
+        raise TypeError("First argument must be IRC context")
+    if data is False:
+        raise ValueError("Signalled data cannot be False")
+    # create signal if it doesn't already exist
+    signal = irc_c.signals(name)
+    signal.fire(irc_c, data)
+
+def await_signal(irc_c, name, *, timeout=None):
+    """Blocks until the signal of the given name is recieved, returning any
+    data that was passed to it."""
+    if not isinstance(irc_c, irc.Context):
+        raise TypeError("First argument must be IRC context")
+    # create signal if it doesn't already exist
+    signal = irc_c.signals(name)
+    return signal.wait(timeout)
+
+class Signal:
+    def __init__(self, name):
+        self.__event = gevent.event.Event()
+        self.__observers = [] # decorated observers
+        self.__waiters = [] # waiting greenlets
+        self.name = name
+
+    def observe(self, observer):
+        if isinstance(observer, collections.Callable):
+            self.__observers.append(observer)
+        else:
+            raise TypeError("%s not callable" % repr(observer))
+        return self
+
+    def unobserve(self, observer):
+        self.__observers.remove(observer)
+        return self
+
+    def fire(self, irc_c, data):
+        assert isinstance(irc_c, irc.Context)
+        # resume waiting greenlets
+        waiters = list(self.__waiters)
+        self.__waiters.clear()
+        gevent.spawn(self._notify, waiters, data)
+        # manually initiate decorated observers
+        for observer in self.__observers:
+            if isinstance(observer, collections.Callable):
+                irc_c.bot_greenlets.spawn(observer, irc_c, copy(data))
+            else:
+                raise TypeError("%s not callable" % repr(observer))
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _notify(waiters, data):
+        for queue in waiters:
+            queue.put_nowait(data)
+
+    def wait(self, timeout):
+        queue = gevent.queue.Channel()
+        self.__waiters.append(queue)
+        data = queue.get(timeout)
+        if data is False:
+            raise TimeoutError("The request timed out.")
+        return data
+
+class Signals:
+    # Stores all the different signals.
+    # There are no pre-defined signals - they will be created by the end user.
+    def __init__(self, irc_c):
+        self.__signals = {}
+        self.__nullSignal = NullSignal() # is this necessary?
+
+    def list(self):
+        return self.__signals.keys()
+
+    def isSignal(self, name):
+        return name.lower() in self.__signals
+
+    def getOrMake(self, name):
+        if not self.isSignal(name):
+            #Make Event if it does not exist
+            self.__signals[name.lower()] = Signal(name)
+        return self.get(name)
+
+    #Return the null signal on non existent signal
+    def get(self, name):
+        signal = self.__signals.get(name.lower())
+        if signal is None:  # Only on undefined events
+            return self.__nullSignal
+        return signal
+
+    __contains__ = isSignal
+    __call__ = getOrMake
+    __getitem__ = get
+
+class NullSignal:
+    # not sure this is even needed
+    pass