diff --git a/CHANGES.md b/CHANGES.md
index a10ab881c..23f9b7eca 100644
--- a/CHANGES.md
+++ b/CHANGES.md
@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@
 #### Added
 
 - Report all parsing errors in Markdown files (#389, @NathanReb)
+- Add alternative syntax for explicitly setting the block-type.
+  The new label `type=...` can be set to `ocaml`, `toplevel`, `cram` or
+  `include`. (#385, @NathanReb)
 
 #### Changed
 
diff --git a/lib/block.ml b/lib/block.ml
index 4a53ce329..9ebe0270f 100644
--- a/lib/block.ml
+++ b/lib/block.ml
@@ -414,7 +414,7 @@ let infer_block ~loc ~config ~header ~contents ~errors =
 
 let mk ~loc ~section ~labels ~legacy_labels ~header ~contents ~errors =
   let block_kind =
-    get_label (function Block_kind x -> Some x | _ -> None) labels
+    get_label (function Block_type x -> Some x | _ -> None) labels
   in
   let config = get_block_config labels in
   (match block_kind with
diff --git a/lib/label.ml b/lib/label.ml
index f9f93d73d..3c31ceded 100644
--- a/lib/label.ml
+++ b/lib/label.ml
@@ -71,7 +71,13 @@ type non_det = Nd_output | Nd_command
 
 let default_non_det = Nd_output
 
-type block_kind = OCaml | Cram | Toplevel | Include
+type block_type = OCaml | Cram | Toplevel | Include
+
+let pp_block_type ppf = function
+  | OCaml -> Fmt.string ppf "ocaml"
+  | Cram -> Fmt.string ppf "cram"
+  | Toplevel -> Fmt.string ppf "toplevel"
+  | Include -> Fmt.string ppf "include"
 
 type t =
   | Dir of string
@@ -84,13 +90,7 @@ type t =
   | Version of Relation.t * Ocaml_version.t
   | Set of string * string
   | Unset of string
-  | Block_kind of block_kind
-
-let pp_block_kind ppf = function
-  | OCaml -> Fmt.string ppf "ocaml"
-  | Cram -> Fmt.string ppf "cram"
-  | Toplevel -> Fmt.string ppf "toplevel"
-  | Include -> Fmt.string ppf "include"
+  | Block_type of block_type
 
 let pp ppf = function
   | Dir d -> Fmt.pf ppf "dir=%s" d
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ let pp ppf = function
       Fmt.pf ppf "version%a%a" Relation.pp op Ocaml_version.pp v
   | Set (v, x) -> Fmt.pf ppf "set-%s=%s" v x
   | Unset x -> Fmt.pf ppf "unset-%s" x
-  | Block_kind bk -> pp_block_kind ppf bk
+  | Block_type bt -> Fmt.pf ppf "type=%a" pp_block_type bt
 
 let is_prefix ~prefix s =
   let len_prefix = String.length prefix in
@@ -140,41 +140,65 @@ let requires_value ~label ~value f =
 
 let requires_eq_value ~label ~value f =
   requires_value ~label ~value (fun op value ->
-      match op with Relation.Eq -> Ok (f value) | _ -> non_eq_op ~label)
+      match op with Relation.Eq -> f value | _ -> non_eq_op ~label)
+
+let version_of_string s =
+  match Ocaml_version.of_string s with
+  | Ok v -> Ok v
+  | Error (`Msg e) -> Util.Result.errorf "Invalid version: %s." e
+
+let parse_non_det_value ~label s =
+  match s with
+  | "output" -> Ok Nd_output
+  | "command" -> Ok Nd_command
+  | s ->
+      let allowed_values = [ "<none>"; {|"command"|}; {|"output"|} ] in
+      invalid_value ~label ~allowed_values s
+
+let parse_block_type_value ~label s =
+  match s with
+  | "ocaml" -> Ok OCaml
+  | "cram" -> Ok Cram
+  | "toplevel" -> Ok Toplevel
+  | "include" -> Ok Include
+  | s ->
+      let allowed_values =
+        [ {|"ocaml"|}; {|"cram"|}; {|"toplevel"|}; {|"include"|} ]
+      in
+      invalid_value ~label ~allowed_values s
 
 let interpret label value =
+  let open Util.Result.Infix in
   match label with
   | "skip" -> doesnt_accept_value ~label ~value Skip
-  | "ocaml" -> doesnt_accept_value ~label ~value (Block_kind OCaml)
-  | "cram" -> doesnt_accept_value ~label ~value (Block_kind Cram)
-  | "toplevel" -> doesnt_accept_value ~label ~value (Block_kind Toplevel)
-  | "include" -> doesnt_accept_value ~label ~value (Block_kind Include)
+  | "ocaml" -> doesnt_accept_value ~label ~value (Block_type OCaml)
+  | "cram" -> doesnt_accept_value ~label ~value (Block_type Cram)
+  | "toplevel" -> doesnt_accept_value ~label ~value (Block_type Toplevel)
+  | "include" -> doesnt_accept_value ~label ~value (Block_type Include)
   | v when is_prefix ~prefix:"unset-" v ->
       doesnt_accept_value ~label ~value
         (Unset (split_prefix ~prefix:"unset-" v))
   | "version" ->
       requires_value ~label ~value (fun op v ->
-          match Ocaml_version.of_string v with
-          | Ok v -> Ok (Version (op, v))
-          | Error (`Msg e) ->
-              Util.Result.errorf "Invalid `version` label value: %s." e)
+          version_of_string v >>= fun v -> Ok (Version (op, v)))
   | "non-deterministic" -> (
       match value with
       | None -> Ok (Non_det None)
-      | Some (Relation.Eq, "output") -> Ok (Non_det (Some Nd_output))
-      | Some (Relation.Eq, "command") -> Ok (Non_det (Some Nd_command))
-      | Some (Relation.Eq, v) ->
-          let allowed_values = [ "<none>"; {|"command"|}; {|"output"|} ] in
-          invalid_value ~label ~allowed_values v
+      | Some (Relation.Eq, s) ->
+          parse_non_det_value ~label s >>= fun nd -> Ok (Non_det (Some nd))
       | Some _ -> non_eq_op ~label)
-  | "dir" -> requires_eq_value ~label ~value (fun x -> Dir x)
-  | "source-tree" -> requires_eq_value ~label ~value (fun x -> Source_tree x)
-  | "file" -> requires_eq_value ~label ~value (fun x -> File x)
-  | "part" -> requires_eq_value ~label ~value (fun x -> Part x)
-  | "env" -> requires_eq_value ~label ~value (fun x -> Env x)
+  | "dir" -> requires_eq_value ~label ~value (fun x -> Ok (Dir x))
+  | "source-tree" ->
+      requires_eq_value ~label ~value (fun x -> Ok (Source_tree x))
+  | "file" -> requires_eq_value ~label ~value (fun x -> Ok (File x))
+  | "part" -> requires_eq_value ~label ~value (fun x -> Ok (Part x))
+  | "env" -> requires_eq_value ~label ~value (fun x -> Ok (Env x))
+  | "type" ->
+      requires_eq_value ~label ~value (fun x ->
+          parse_block_type_value ~label x >>= fun bt -> Ok (Block_type bt))
   | l when is_prefix ~prefix:"set-" l ->
       requires_eq_value ~label ~value (fun x ->
-          Set (split_prefix ~prefix:"set-" l, x))
+          Ok (Set (split_prefix ~prefix:"set-" l, x)))
   | l -> Error (`Msg (Format.sprintf "`%s` is not a valid label." l))
 
 let of_string s =
diff --git a/lib/label.mli b/lib/label.mli
index fdba0a603..5ae377bfc 100644
--- a/lib/label.mli
+++ b/lib/label.mli
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ type non_det = Nd_output | Nd_command
 
 val default_non_det : non_det
 
-type block_kind = OCaml | Cram | Toplevel | Include
+type block_type = OCaml | Cram | Toplevel | Include
 
 type t =
   | Dir of string
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ type t =
   | Version of Relation.t * Ocaml_version.t
   | Set of string * string
   | Unset of string
-  | Block_kind of block_kind
+  | Block_type of block_type
 
 val pp : Format.formatter -> t -> unit
 
diff --git a/test/bin/mdx-test/expect/block-type/test-case.md b/test/bin/mdx-test/expect/block-type/test-case.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..674ac57aa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/bin/mdx-test/expect/block-type/test-case.md
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+It is possible to explicitly state the type of a block using the
+`type` label to bypass the language header + content based inference,
+providing better, more focused error messages.
+
+The following blocks use a volontarily misleading language header that would
+normally lead to errors if we let MDX infer the type of block based on them.
+
+<!-- $MDX type=toplevel -->
+```sh
+# 1 + 1;;
+```
+
+<!-- $MDX type=ocaml -->
+```sh
+let x = 2
+```
+
+<!-- $MDX type=cram -->
+```ocaml
+$ echo "boom"
+```
+
+The include block type is somewhat redundant with the `file=...` label as
+so it is not tested here.
diff --git a/test/bin/mdx-test/expect/block-type/test-case.md.expected b/test/bin/mdx-test/expect/block-type/test-case.md.expected
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..00fe5ff35
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/bin/mdx-test/expect/block-type/test-case.md.expected
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+It is possible to explicitly state the type of a block using the
+`type` label to bypass the language header + content based inference,
+providing better, more focused error messages.
+
+The following blocks use a volontarily misleading language header that would
+normally lead to errors if we let MDX infer the type of block based on them.
+
+<!-- $MDX type=toplevel -->
+```ocaml
+# 1 + 1;;
+- : int = 2
+```
+
+<!-- $MDX type=ocaml -->
+```ocaml
+let x = 2
+```
+
+<!-- $MDX type=cram -->
+```sh
+$ echo "boom"
+boom
+```
+
+The include block type is somewhat redundant with the `file=...` label as
+so it is not tested here.
diff --git a/test/bin/mdx-test/expect/dune.inc b/test/bin/mdx-test/expect/dune.inc
index 54b10eeba..c66e114c3 100644
--- a/test/bin/mdx-test/expect/dune.inc
+++ b/test/bin/mdx-test/expect/dune.inc
@@ -11,6 +11,18 @@
  (alias runtest)
  (action (diff bash-fence/test-case.md.expected bash-fence.actual)))
 
+(rule
+ (target block-type.actual)
+ (deps (package mdx) (source_tree block-type))
+ (action
+  (with-stdout-to %{target}
+   (chdir block-type
+    (run ocaml-mdx test --output - test-case.md)))))
+
+(rule
+ (alias runtest)
+ (action (diff block-type/test-case.md.expected block-type.actual)))
+
 (rule
  (target casual-file-inc.actual)
  (deps (package mdx) (source_tree casual-file-inc))
diff --git a/test/bin/mdx-test/failure/block-type-value/test-case.md b/test/bin/mdx-test/failure/block-type-value/test-case.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a46b38255
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/bin/mdx-test/failure/block-type-value/test-case.md
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+This tests that erros are properly reported when the `type` label
+is misused.
+
+It requires a value
+
+<!-- $MDX type -->
+```ocaml
+```
+
+It only accepts a fixed set of values
+
+<!-- $MDX type=invalid -->
+```ocaml
+```
diff --git a/test/bin/mdx-test/failure/block-type-value/test-case.md.expected b/test/bin/mdx-test/failure/block-type-value/test-case.md.expected
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8931f1eff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/bin/mdx-test/failure/block-type-value/test-case.md.expected
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+[mdx] Fatal error: File "test-case.md", lines 6-8: invalid code block: Label `type` requires a value.
+[mdx] Fatal error: File "test-case.md", lines 12-14: invalid code block: "invalid" is not a valid value for label `type`. Valid values are "ocaml", "cram", "toplevel" and "include".
diff --git a/test/bin/mdx-test/failure/dune.inc b/test/bin/mdx-test/failure/dune.inc
index 9bf381ab6..87739745f 100644
--- a/test/bin/mdx-test/failure/dune.inc
+++ b/test/bin/mdx-test/failure/dune.inc
@@ -12,6 +12,19 @@
  (alias runtest)
  (action (diff block-locations/test-case.md.expected block-locations.actual)))
 
+(rule
+ (target block-type-value.actual)
+ (deps (package mdx) (source_tree block-type-value))
+ (action
+  (with-accepted-exit-codes 1
+   (with-outputs-to %{target}
+    (chdir block-type-value
+     (run %{bin:ocaml-mdx} test test-case.md))))))
+
+(rule
+ (alias runtest)
+ (action (diff block-type-value/test-case.md.expected block-type-value.actual)))
+
 (rule
  (target both-prelude.actual)
  (deps (package mdx) (source_tree both-prelude))
@@ -65,6 +78,19 @@
  (enabled_if (<> %{os_type} Win32))
  (action (diff in-toplevel/test-case.md.expected in-toplevel.actual)))
 
+(rule
+ (target include-without-file-label.actual)
+ (deps (package mdx) (source_tree include-without-file-label))
+ (action
+  (with-accepted-exit-codes 1
+   (with-outputs-to %{target}
+    (chdir include-without-file-label
+     (run %{bin:ocaml-mdx} test test-case.md))))))
+
+(rule
+ (alias runtest)
+ (action (diff include-without-file-label/test-case.md.expected include-without-file-label.actual)))
+
 (rule
  (target invalid-label.actual)
  (deps (package mdx) (source_tree invalid-label))
diff --git a/test/bin/mdx-test/failure/include-without-file-label/test-case.md b/test/bin/mdx-test/failure/include-without-file-label/test-case.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..298d518f2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/bin/mdx-test/failure/include-without-file-label/test-case.md
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+Explicitly setting the `type` to `include` has little benefits except
+for warning you that the `file=...` label is mandatory.
+
+<!-- $MDX type=include -->
+```ocaml
+```
diff --git a/test/bin/mdx-test/failure/include-without-file-label/test-case.md.expected b/test/bin/mdx-test/failure/include-without-file-label/test-case.md.expected
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2deddf767
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/bin/mdx-test/failure/include-without-file-label/test-case.md.expected
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+[mdx] Fatal error: File "test-case.md", lines 4-6: invalid code block: `file` label is required for include blocks.
diff --git a/test/lib/test_block.ml b/test/lib/test_block.ml
index 86312d883..f9d687bf0 100644
--- a/test/lib/test_block.ml
+++ b/test/lib/test_block.ml
@@ -38,10 +38,10 @@ let test_mk =
     (test_name, `Quick, test_fun)
   in
   [
-    make_test ~name:"invalid ocaml" ~labels:[ Block_kind OCaml ]
+    make_test ~name:"invalid ocaml" ~labels:[ Block_type OCaml ]
       ~header:(Some OCaml) ~contents:[ "# let x = 2;;" ]
       ~expected:(Error (`Msg "toplevel syntax is not allowed in OCaml blocks."));
-    make_test ~name:"invalid toplevel" ~labels:[ Block_kind Toplevel ]
+    make_test ~name:"invalid toplevel" ~labels:[ Block_type Toplevel ]
       ~header:(Some OCaml) ~contents:[ "let x = 2;;" ]
       ~expected:(Error (`Msg "invalid toplevel syntax in toplevel blocks."));
   ]