diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 57613cc19..ac5ad98cf 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -102,3 +102,7 @@ example:
 
     nix-repl> config.networking.use<TAB>
     config.networking.useDHCP   config.networking.usePredictableInterfaceNames
+
+Input history is preserved by readline in ~/.nix-repl-history
+The readline "application name" is nix-repl. This allows for nix-repl specific
+settings in ~/.inputrc
diff --git a/nix-repl.cc b/nix-repl.cc
index 0c50f4683..71790eb48 100644
--- a/nix-repl.cc
+++ b/nix-repl.cc
@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@ using namespace nix;
 #define ESC_CYA "\033[36m"
 #define ESC_END "\033[0m"
 
+string programId = "nix-repl";
+const string historyFile = string(getenv("HOME")) + "/.nix-repl-history";
+
 struct NixRepl
 {
     string curDir;
@@ -127,8 +130,10 @@ void NixRepl::mainLoop(const Strings & files)
     reloadFiles();
     if (!loadedFiles.empty()) std::cout << std::endl;
 
+    // Allow nix-repl specific settings in .inputrc
+    rl_readline_name = "nix-repl";
     using_history();
-    read_history(0);
+    read_history(historyFile.c_str());
 
     string input;
 
@@ -708,5 +713,7 @@ int main(int argc, char * * argv)
 
         NixRepl repl(searchPath, openStore());
         repl.mainLoop(files);
+
+        write_history(historyFile.c_str());
     });
 }