diff --git a/autoload/colorizer.vim b/autoload/colorizer.vim
index b33ea5a..020eb3c 100644
--- a/autoload/colorizer.vim
+++ b/autoload/colorizer.vim
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ function! s:SetMatcher(color, pat) "{{{1
   endif
 endfunction
 
-"i Color Converters {{{1
+" Color Converters {{{1
 function! s:RgbBgColor() "{{{2
   let bg = synIDattr(synIDtrans(hlID("Normal")), "bg")
   let r = str2nr(bg[1:2], 16)
@@ -192,8 +192,13 @@ function! s:HexCode(str, lineno) "{{{2
       let ha = tolower(foundcolor[7:8])
     endif
     if len(foundcolor) == 9
-      let alpha      = foundcolor[7:8]
-      let foundcolor = foundcolor[0:6]
+      if get(g:, 'colorizer_hex_alpha_first') == 1
+        let alpha      = foundcolor[1:2]
+        let foundcolor = '#'.foundcolor[3:8]
+      else
+        let alpha      = foundcolor[7:8]
+        let foundcolor = foundcolor[0:6]
+      endif
     else
       let alpha = 'ff'
     endif
diff --git a/plugin/colorizer.vim b/plugin/colorizer.vim
index 850913e..c32e5cb 100644
--- a/plugin/colorizer.vim
+++ b/plugin/colorizer.vim
@@ -33,6 +33,10 @@
 "	let g:colorizer_maxlines = 1000
 " -1 means unlimited number of lines
 "
+" There are color strings in the format #RRGGBBAA and #AARRGGBB. The former is
+" more common so it's the default. If you want the latter, set the following:
+"	let g:colorizer_hex_alpha_first = 1
+"
 " Note: if you modify a color string in normal mode, if the cursor is still on
 " that line, it'll take 'updatetime' seconds to update. You can use
 " :ColorHighlight (or your key mapping) again to force update.