diff --git a/screen.go b/screen.go
index bd35a89..75a71e0 100644
--- a/screen.go
+++ b/screen.go
@@ -255,6 +255,10 @@ type Screen interface {
 	// does not support application-initiated resizing, whereas the legacy terminal does.
 	// Also, some emulators can support this but may have it disabled by default.
 	SetSize(int, int)
+
+	// LockRegion sets or unsets a lock on a region of cells. A lock on a
+	// cell prevents the cell from being redrawn.
+	LockRegion(x, y, width, height int, lock bool)
 }
 
 // NewScreen returns a default Screen suitable for the user's terminal
diff --git a/simulation.go b/simulation.go
index b18b664..98ae6f8 100644
--- a/simulation.go
+++ b/simulation.go
@@ -553,3 +553,18 @@ func (s *simscreen) Suspend() error {
 func (s *simscreen) Resume() error {
 	return nil
 }
+
+func (s *simscreen) LockRegion(x, y, width, height int, lock bool) {
+	s.Lock()
+	defer s.Unlock()
+	for j := y; j < (y + height); j += 1 {
+		for i := x; i < (x + width); i += 1 {
+			switch lock {
+			case true:
+				s.back.LockCell(i, j)
+			case false:
+				s.back.UnlockCell(i, j)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/tscreen.go b/tscreen.go
index 5248290..127c47b 100644
--- a/tscreen.go
+++ b/tscreen.go
@@ -1852,6 +1852,22 @@ func (t *tScreen) Resume() error {
 	return t.engage()
 }
 
+
+func (t *tScreen) LockRegion(x, y, width, height int, lock bool) {
+	t.Lock()
+	defer t.Unlock()
+	for j := y; j < (y + height); j += 1 {
+		for i := x; i < (x + width); i += 1 {
+			switch lock {
+			case true:
+				t.cells.LockCell(i, j)
+			case false:
+				t.cells.UnlockCell(i, j)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 // engage is used to place the terminal in raw mode and establish screen size, etc.
 // Think of this is as tcell "engaging" the clutch, as it's going to be driving the
 // terminal interface.
diff --git a/wscreen.go b/wscreen.go
index 90965b0..4c398aa 100644
--- a/wscreen.go
+++ b/wscreen.go
@@ -562,6 +562,21 @@ func (t *wScreen) Beep() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+func (t *wScreen) LockRegion(x, y, width, height int, lock bool) {
+	t.Lock()
+	defer t.Unlock()
+	for j := y; j < (y + height); j += 1 {
+		for i := x; i < (x + width); i += 1 {
+			switch lock {
+			case true:
+				t.cells.LockCell(i, j)
+			case false:
+				t.cells.UnlockCell(i, j)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 // WebKeyNames maps string names reported from HTML
 // (KeyboardEvent.key) to tcell accepted keys.
 var WebKeyNames = map[string]Key{