diff --git a/docs/conf.py b/docs/conf.py
index befbcc6c3e..e46b299b71 100644
--- a/docs/conf.py
+++ b/docs/conf.py
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@
 # add these directories to sys.path here. If the directory is relative to the
 # documentation root, use an absolute path starting from qemu_docdir.
 #
-# sys.path.insert(0, os.path.join(qemu_docdir, "my_subdir"))
+sys.path.insert(0, os.path.join(qemu_docdir, "sphinx"))
 
 
 # -- General configuration ------------------------------------------------
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@
 # Add any Sphinx extension module names here, as strings. They can be
 # extensions coming with Sphinx (named 'sphinx.ext.*') or your custom
 # ones.
-extensions = []
+extensions = ['qmp_lexer']
 
 # Add any paths that contain templates here, relative to this directory.
 templates_path = ['_templates']
diff --git a/docs/sphinx/qmp_lexer.py b/docs/sphinx/qmp_lexer.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f7e4c0e198
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/sphinx/qmp_lexer.py
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+# QEMU Monitor Protocol Lexer Extension
+#
+# Copyright (C) 2019, Red Hat Inc.
+#
+# Authors:
+#  Eduardo Habkost <ehabkost@redhat.com>
+#  John Snow <jsnow@redhat.com>
+#
+# This work is licensed under the terms of the GNU GPLv2 or later.
+# See the COPYING file in the top-level directory.
+"""qmp_lexer is a Sphinx extension that provides a QMP lexer for code blocks."""
+
+from pygments.lexer import RegexLexer, DelegatingLexer
+from pygments.lexers.data import JsonLexer
+from pygments import token
+from sphinx import errors
+
+class QMPExampleMarkersLexer(RegexLexer):
+    """
+    QMPExampleMarkersLexer lexes QMP example annotations.
+    This lexer adds support for directionality flow and elision indicators.
+    """
+    tokens = {
+        'root': [
+            (r'-> ', token.Generic.Prompt),
+            (r'<- ', token.Generic.Prompt),
+            (r' ?\.{3} ?', token.Generic.Prompt),
+        ]
+    }
+
+class QMPExampleLexer(DelegatingLexer):
+    """QMPExampleLexer lexes annotated QMP examples."""
+    def __init__(self, **options):
+        super(QMPExampleLexer, self).__init__(JsonLexer, QMPExampleMarkersLexer,
+                                              token.Error, **options)
+
+def setup(sphinx):
+    """For use by the Sphinx extensions API."""
+    try:
+        sphinx.require_sphinx('2.1')
+        sphinx.add_lexer('QMP', QMPExampleLexer)
+    except errors.VersionRequirementError:
+        sphinx.add_lexer('QMP', QMPExampleLexer())