diff --git a/src/effects/text.cpp b/src/effects/text.cpp
index 460adf5..667382b 100644
--- a/src/effects/text.cpp
+++ b/src/effects/text.cpp
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <cmath>
 #include <cstdint>
+#include <numbers>
 
 #include "core/parallel.hpp"
 #include "effects/source_fill.hpp"
@@ -57,6 +58,10 @@ const std::vector<ParamSpec>& TextEffect::params() const {
                            "Moves the text right by this many pixels (left when negative)."),
         ParamSpec::makeInt("text_offset_y", "Offset Y", 0, -20000, 20000,
                            "Moves the text down by this many pixels (up when negative)."),
+        ParamSpec::makeDouble("text_rotation", "Rotation", 0.0, -360.0, 360.0,
+                              "Turns the text and its box about their centre by this many "
+                              "degrees, clockwise (anticlockwise when negative).",
+                              1.0, 1),
         ParamSpec::makeDouble("text_opacity", "Text opacity", 1.0, 0.0, 1.0,
                               "How strongly the glyphs are mixed over what is behind them.")
             .styled(),
@@ -264,6 +269,18 @@ Image TextEffect::render(const std::vector<Image>& sources, int width, int heigh
     const double boxY = (centre ? (height - boxHeight) / 2.0 : 0.0) +
                         static_cast<double>(paramInt(values, "text_offset_y", 0));
 
+    // The turn is about the middle of the box, so it never moves the text away
+    // from where the centring and the offset put it. Cairo's y points down,
+    // which makes a positive angle clockwise on screen.
+    const double rotation = paramDouble(values, "text_rotation", 0.0);
+    if (rotation != 0.0) {
+        const double cx = boxX + boxWidth / 2.0;
+        const double cy = boxY + boxHeight / 2.0;
+        cairo_translate(cr.get, cx, cy);
+        cairo_rotate(cr.get, rotation * std::numbers::pi / 180.0);
+        cairo_translate(cr.get, -cx, -cy);
+    }
+
     if (drawsBox) {
         cairo_save(cr.get);
         cairo_rectangle(cr.get, boxX, boxY, boxWidth, boxHeight);
diff --git a/tests/core_tests.cpp b/tests/core_tests.cpp
index 2dc172b..ffee49c 100644
--- a/tests/core_tests.cpp
+++ b/tests/core_tests.cpp
@@ -759,6 +759,20 @@ int main() {
         check(countRed(moved, 100, 60, 200, 120) > 0 && countRed(moved, 0, 0, 100, 60) == 0,
               "the offset moves it down and to the right");
 
+        // A wide line turned a quarter stands upright: it reaches above and
+        // below the band it filled unturned, and no longer out to the sides.
+        ParamValues wide = plain;
+        wide["text"] = std::string("HHHHHH");
+        wide["font_size"] = 40.0;
+        const auto flat = renderText(blue, 200, 120, wide);
+        ParamValues turned = wide;
+        turned["text_rotation"] = 90.0;
+        const auto upright = renderText(blue, 200, 120, turned);
+        check(countRed(flat, 0, 0, 200, 25) == 0 && countRed(upright, 0, 0, 200, 25) > 0,
+              "rotation turns the text about its centre");
+        check(countRed(flat, 0, 0, 50, 120) > 0 && countRed(upright, 0, 0, 50, 120) == 0,
+              "and takes it in from the sides");
+
         // Weight and size are the two knobs the glyphs themselves answer to: a
         // bolder or a larger setting covers strictly more of the canvas.
         ParamValues bold = plain;
@@ -877,7 +891,8 @@ int main() {
                   carries("box_padding") && carries("box_opacity"),
               "the look is what it carries");
         check(!carries("text") && !carries("text_wrap") && !carries("box_image") &&
-                  !carries("text_center") && !carries("text_offset_x") && !carries("text_offset_y"),
+                  !carries("text_center") && !carries("text_offset_x") && !carries("text_offset_y") &&
+                  !carries("text_rotation"),
               "the words and the placement stay on the stage");
         check(styleSpecs("").empty() && styleSpecs("nosuchkind").empty(),
               "a kind no effect claims carries nothing");