diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a169a6165..3b7c6fc75 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -107,6 +107,7 @@ All modules are disabled by default and need to be activated explicitly in your
 lua <<EOF
 require'nvim-treesitter.configs'.setup {
   ensure_installed = "maintained", -- one of "all", "maintained" (parsers with maintainers), or a list of languages
+  sync_install = true, -- install languages synchronously
   ignore_install = { "javascript" }, -- List of parsers to ignore installing
   highlight = {
     enable = true,              -- false will disable the whole extension
diff --git a/lua/nvim-treesitter/configs.lua b/lua/nvim-treesitter/configs.lua
index 30008fe9a..93e996b8e 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-treesitter/configs.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-treesitter/configs.lua
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ local M = {}
 
 local config = {
   modules = {},
+  sync_install = false,
   ensure_installed = {},
   ignore_install = {},
   update_strategy = "lockfile",
@@ -366,7 +367,11 @@ function M.setup(user_data)
 
   local ensure_installed = user_data.ensure_installed or {}
   if #ensure_installed > 0 then
-    require("nvim-treesitter.install").ensure_installed(ensure_installed)
+    if user_data.sync_install then
+      require("nvim-treesitter.install").ensure_sync_installed(ensure_installed)
+    else
+      require("nvim-treesitter.install").ensure_installed(ensure_installed)
+    end
   end
 
   config.modules.ensure_installed = nil
diff --git a/lua/nvim-treesitter/install.lua b/lua/nvim-treesitter/install.lua
index d57b48565..8b7dd042d 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-treesitter/install.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-treesitter/install.lua
@@ -521,6 +521,7 @@ function M.write_lockfile(verbose, skip_langs)
 end
 
 M.ensure_installed = install { exclude_configured_parsers = true }
+M.ensure_sync_installed = install { with_sync = true, exclude_configured_parsers = true }
 
 M.commands = {
   TSInstall = {