diff --git a/completion/notmuch-completion.bash b/completion/notmuch-completion.bash
index 249b9664..15425697 100644
--- a/completion/notmuch-completion.bash
+++ b/completion/notmuch-completion.bash
@@ -522,7 +522,7 @@ _notmuch_show()
 	    return
 	    ;;
         --decrypt)
-	    COMPREPLY=( $( compgen -W "true auto false" -- "${cur}" ) )
+	    COMPREPLY=( $( compgen -W "true auto false stash" -- "${cur}" ) )
 	    return
 	    ;;
     esac
diff --git a/doc/man1/notmuch-show.rst b/doc/man1/notmuch-show.rst
index 2b825ccc..b2667537 100644
--- a/doc/man1/notmuch-show.rst
+++ b/doc/man1/notmuch-show.rst
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ Supported options for **show** include
     supported with --format=json and --format=sexp), and the
     multipart/signed part will be replaced by the signed data.
 
-``--decrypt=(false|auto|true)``
+``--decrypt=(false|auto|true|stash)``
     If ``true``, decrypt any MIME encrypted parts found in the
     selected content (i.e. "multipart/encrypted" parts). Status of
     the decryption will be reported (currently only supported
@@ -118,17 +118,45 @@ Supported options for **show** include
     decryption the multipart/encrypted part will be replaced by
     the decrypted content.
 
+    ``stash`` behaves like ``true``, but upon successful decryption it
+    will also stash the message's session key in the database, and
+    index the cleartext of the message, enabling automatic decryption
+    in the future.
+
     If ``auto``, and a session key is already known for the
     message, then it will be decrypted, but notmuch will not try
     to access the user's keys.
 
     Use ``false`` to avoid even automatic decryption.
 
-    Non-automatic decryption expects a functioning
-    **gpg-agent(1)** to provide any needed credentials. Without
-    one, the decryption will fail.
+    Non-automatic decryption (``stash`` or ``true``, in the absence of
+    a stashed session key) expects a functioning **gpg-agent(1)** to
+    provide any needed credentials. Without one, the decryption will
+    fail.
 
-    Note: ``true`` implies --verify.
+    Note: setting either ``true`` or ``stash`` here implies
+    ``--verify``.
+
+    Here is a table that summarizes each of these policies:
+
+    +------------------------+-------+------+------+-------+
+    |                        | false | auto | true | stash |
+    +========================+=======+======+======+=======+
+    | Show cleartext if      |       |  X   |  X   |   X   |
+    | session key is         |       |      |      |       |
+    | already known          |       |      |      |       |
+    +------------------------+-------+------+------+-------+
+    | Use secret keys to     |       |      |  X   |   X   |
+    | show cleartext         |       |      |      |       |
+    +------------------------+-------+------+------+-------+
+    | Stash any newly        |       |      |      |   X   |
+    | recovered session keys,|       |      |      |       |
+    | reindexing message if  |       |      |      |       |
+    | found                  |       |      |      |       |
+    +------------------------+-------+------+------+-------+
+
+    Note: ``--decrypt=stash`` requires write access to the database.
+    Otherwise, ``notmuch show`` operates entirely in read-only mode.
 
     Default: ``auto``
 
diff --git a/notmuch-show.c b/notmuch-show.c
index 3d10f3b2..1072ea55 100644
--- a/notmuch-show.c
+++ b/notmuch-show.c
@@ -1124,6 +1124,7 @@ notmuch_show_command (notmuch_config_t *config, int argc, char *argv[])
 	  (notmuch_keyword_t []){ { "false", NOTMUCH_DECRYPT_FALSE },
 				  { "auto", NOTMUCH_DECRYPT_AUTO },
 				  { "true", NOTMUCH_DECRYPT_NOSTASH },
+				  { "stash", NOTMUCH_DECRYPT_TRUE },
 				  { 0, 0 } } },
 	{ .opt_bool = &params.crypto.verify, .name = "verify" },
 	{ .opt_bool = &params.output_body, .name = "body" },
@@ -1139,7 +1140,8 @@ notmuch_show_command (notmuch_config_t *config, int argc, char *argv[])
     notmuch_process_shared_options (argv[0]);
 
     /* explicit decryption implies verification */
-    if (params.crypto.decrypt == NOTMUCH_DECRYPT_NOSTASH)
+    if (params.crypto.decrypt == NOTMUCH_DECRYPT_NOSTASH ||
+	params.crypto.decrypt == NOTMUCH_DECRYPT_TRUE)
 	params.crypto.verify = true;
 
     /* specifying a part implies single message display */
@@ -1202,8 +1204,11 @@ notmuch_show_command (notmuch_config_t *config, int argc, char *argv[])
     params.crypto.gpgpath = notmuch_config_get_crypto_gpg_path (config);
 #endif
 
+    notmuch_database_mode_t mode = NOTMUCH_DATABASE_MODE_READ_ONLY;
+    if (params.crypto.decrypt == NOTMUCH_DECRYPT_TRUE)
+	mode = NOTMUCH_DATABASE_MODE_READ_WRITE;
     if (notmuch_database_open (notmuch_config_get_database_path (config),
-			       NOTMUCH_DATABASE_MODE_READ_ONLY, &notmuch))
+			       mode, &notmuch))
 	return EXIT_FAILURE;
 
     notmuch_exit_if_unmatched_db_uuid (notmuch);
diff --git a/test/T357-index-decryption.sh b/test/T357-index-decryption.sh
index ad6c3616..c5435f4f 100755
--- a/test/T357-index-decryption.sh
+++ b/test/T357-index-decryption.sh
@@ -80,6 +80,24 @@ test_expect_equal \
     "$output" \
     "$expected"
 
+# show the message using stashing decryption
+test_begin_subtest "stash decryption during show"
+output=$(notmuch show --decrypt=stash tag:encrypted subject:002 | notmuch_show_part 3)
+expected='This is a test encrypted message with a wumpus.'
+test_expect_equal \
+    "$output" \
+    "$expected"
+
+test_begin_subtest "search should now find the contents"
+output=$(notmuch search wumpus)
+expected='thread:0000000000000003   2000-01-01 [1/1] Notmuch Test Suite; test encrypted message for cleartext index 002 (encrypted inbox unread)'
+if [ $NOTMUCH_HAVE_GMIME_SESSION_KEYS -eq 0 ]; then
+    test_subtest_known_broken
+fi
+test_expect_equal \
+    "$output" \
+    "$expected"
+
 # try reinserting it with decryption, should appear again, but now we
 # have two copies of the message:
 test_begin_subtest "message cleartext is present after reinserting with --decrypt=true"