diff --git a/lib/gears/shape.lua b/lib/gears/shape.lua
index cc7dc605a..3858c0f4e 100644
--- a/lib/gears/shape.lua
+++ b/lib/gears/shape.lua
@@ -101,6 +101,30 @@ function module.rectangular_tag(cr, width, height)
     cr:close_path()
 end
 
+--- A simple arrow shape
+-- @param cr A cairo context
+-- @tparam number width The shape with
+-- @tparam number height The shape height
+-- @tparam[opt=head_width] number head_width The width of the head (/\) of the arrow
+-- @tparam[opt=width /2] number shaft_width The width of the shaft of the arrow
+-- @tparam[opt=height/2] number shaft_length The head_length of the shaft (the rest is the head)
+function module.arrow(cr, width, height, head_width, shaft_width, shaft_length)
+    local shaft_length = shaft_length or height / 2
+    local shaft_width  = shaft_width  or width  / 2
+    local head_width   = head_width   or width
+    local head_length  = height - shaft_length
+
+    cr:move_to    ( width/2                     , 0            )
+    cr:rel_line_to( head_width/2                , head_length  )
+    cr:rel_line_to( -(head_width-shaft_width)/2 , 0            )
+    cr:rel_line_to( 0                           , shaft_length )
+    cr:rel_line_to( -shaft_width                , 0            )
+    cr:rel_line_to( 0           , -shaft_length                )
+    cr:rel_line_to( -(head_width-shaft_width)/2 , 0            )
+
+    cr:close_path()
+end
+
 --- Ajust the shape using a transformation object
 --
 -- Apply various transformations to the shape