diff --git a/runtime/doc/syntax.txt b/runtime/doc/syntax.txt
index 57337aeac2..7da886dabd 100644
--- a/runtime/doc/syntax.txt
+++ b/runtime/doc/syntax.txt
@@ -3522,6 +3522,24 @@ DEFINING CASE						*:syn-case* *E390*
 :sy[ntax] case
 	Show either "syntax case match" or "syntax case ignore" (translated).
 
+
+DEFINING FOLDLEVEL					*:syn-foldlevel*
+
+:sy[ntax] foldlevel [start | minimum]
+	This defines how the foldlevel of a line is computed when using
+	foldmethod=syntax (see |fold-syntax| and |:syn-fold|):
+
+	start:		Use level of item containing start of line.
+	minimum:	Use lowest local-minimum level of items on line.
+
+	The default is 'start'.  Use 'minimum' to search a line horizontally
+	for the lowest level contained on the line that is followed by a
+	higher level.  This produces more natural folds when syntax items
+	may close and open horizontally within a line.
+
+:sy[ntax] foldlevel
+	Show either "syntax foldlevel start" or "syntax foldlevel minimum".
+
 SPELL CHECKING						*:syn-spell*
 
 :sy[ntax] spell [toplevel | notoplevel | default]
@@ -3985,6 +4003,8 @@ This will make each {} block form one fold.
 The fold will start on the line where the item starts, and end where the item
 ends.  If the start and end are within the same line, there is no fold.
 The 'foldnestmax' option limits the nesting of syntax folds.
+See |:syn-foldlevel| to control how the foldlevel of a line is computed
+from its syntax items.
 
 
 			*:syn-contains* *E405* *E406* *E407* *E408* *E409*
diff --git a/src/nvim/buffer_defs.h b/src/nvim/buffer_defs.h
index d696eedbb7..550f8a5e40 100644
--- a/src/nvim/buffer_defs.h
+++ b/src/nvim/buffer_defs.h
@@ -373,6 +373,10 @@ struct stl_hlrec {
 #define SYNSPL_TOP      1       // spell check toplevel text
 #define SYNSPL_NOTOP    2       // don't spell check toplevel text
 
+// values for b_syn_foldlevel: how to compute foldlevel on a line
+#define SYNFLD_START    0       // use level of item at start of line
+#define SYNFLD_MINIMUM  1       // use lowest local minimum level on line
+
 // avoid #ifdefs for when b_spell is not available
 # define B_SPELL(buf)  ((buf)->b_spell)
 
@@ -398,6 +402,7 @@ typedef struct {
   int b_syn_error;                      // TRUE when error occurred in HL
   bool b_syn_slow;                      // true when 'redrawtime' reached
   int b_syn_ic;                         // ignore case for :syn cmds
+  int b_syn_foldlevel;                  // how to compute foldlevel on a line
   int b_syn_spell;                      // SYNSPL_ values
   garray_T b_syn_patterns;              // table for syntax patterns
   garray_T b_syn_clusters;              // table for syntax clusters
diff --git a/src/nvim/syntax.c b/src/nvim/syntax.c
index f3b05c3961..4aa7c21ce4 100644
--- a/src/nvim/syntax.c
+++ b/src/nvim/syntax.c
@@ -121,6 +121,8 @@ static int hl_attr_table[] =
 { HL_BOLD, HL_STANDOUT, HL_UNDERLINE, HL_UNDERCURL, HL_ITALIC, HL_INVERSE,
   HL_INVERSE, HL_STRIKETHROUGH, HL_NOCOMBINE, 0 };
 
+static char e_illegal_arg[] = N_("E390: Illegal argument: %s");
+
 // The patterns that are being searched for are stored in a syn_pattern.
 // A match item consists of one pattern.
 // A start/end item consists of n start patterns and m end patterns.
@@ -3045,7 +3047,7 @@ static void syn_cmd_conceal(exarg_T *eap, int syncing)
   } else if (STRNICMP(arg, "off", 3) == 0 && next - arg == 3) {
     curwin->w_s->b_syn_conceal = false;
   } else {
-    EMSG2(_("E390: Illegal argument: %s"), arg);
+    EMSG2(_(e_illegal_arg), arg);
   }
 }
 
@@ -3073,7 +3075,42 @@ static void syn_cmd_case(exarg_T *eap, int syncing)
   } else if (STRNICMP(arg, "ignore", 6) == 0 && next - arg == 6) {
     curwin->w_s->b_syn_ic = true;
   } else {
-    EMSG2(_("E390: Illegal argument: %s"), arg);
+    EMSG2(_(e_illegal_arg), arg);
+  }
+}
+
+/// Handle ":syntax foldlevel" command.
+static void syn_cmd_foldlevel(exarg_T *eap, int syncing)
+{
+  char_u *arg = eap->arg;
+  char_u *arg_end;
+
+  eap->nextcmd = find_nextcmd(arg);
+  if (eap->skip)
+    return;
+
+  if (*arg == NUL) {
+    switch (curwin->w_s->b_syn_foldlevel) {
+    case SYNFLD_START:   MSG(_("syntax foldlevel start"));   break;
+    case SYNFLD_MINIMUM: MSG(_("syntax foldlevel minimum")); break;
+    default: break;
+    }
+    return;
+  }
+
+  arg_end = skiptowhite(arg);
+  if (STRNICMP(arg, "start", 5) == 0 && arg_end - arg == 5) {
+    curwin->w_s->b_syn_foldlevel = SYNFLD_START;
+  } else if (STRNICMP(arg, "minimum", 7) == 0 && arg_end - arg == 7) {
+    curwin->w_s->b_syn_foldlevel = SYNFLD_MINIMUM;
+  } else {
+    EMSG2(_(e_illegal_arg), arg);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  arg = skipwhite(arg_end);
+  if (*arg != NUL) {
+    EMSG2(_(e_illegal_arg), arg);
   }
 }
 
@@ -3105,7 +3142,7 @@ static void syn_cmd_spell(exarg_T *eap, int syncing)
   } else if (STRNICMP(arg, "default", 7) == 0 && next - arg == 7) {
     curwin->w_s->b_syn_spell = SYNSPL_DEFAULT;
   } else {
-    EMSG2(_("E390: Illegal argument: %s"), arg);
+    EMSG2(_(e_illegal_arg), arg);
     return;
   }
 
@@ -3161,6 +3198,7 @@ void syntax_clear(synblock_T *block)
   block->b_syn_error = false;           // clear previous error
   block->b_syn_slow = false;            // clear previous timeout
   block->b_syn_ic = false;              // Use case, by default
+  block->b_syn_foldlevel = SYNFLD_START;
   block->b_syn_spell = SYNSPL_DEFAULT;  // default spell checking
   block->b_syn_containedin = false;
   block->b_syn_conceal = false;
@@ -5485,6 +5523,7 @@ static struct subcommand subcommands[] =
   { "cluster",   syn_cmd_cluster },
   { "conceal",   syn_cmd_conceal },
   { "enable",    syn_cmd_enable },
+  { "foldlevel", syn_cmd_foldlevel },
   { "include",   syn_cmd_include },
   { "iskeyword", syn_cmd_iskeyword },
   { "keyword",   syn_cmd_keyword },
@@ -5763,6 +5802,17 @@ int syn_get_stack_item(int i)
   return CUR_STATE(i).si_id;
 }
 
+static int syn_cur_foldlevel(void)
+{
+  int level = 0;
+  for (int i = 0; i < current_state.ga_len; i++) {
+    if (CUR_STATE(i).si_flags & HL_FOLD) {
+      level++;
+    }
+  }
+  return level;
+}
+
 /*
  * Function called to get folding level for line "lnum" in window "wp".
  */
@@ -5776,9 +5826,22 @@ int syn_get_foldlevel(win_T *wp, long lnum)
       && !wp->w_s->b_syn_slow) {
     syntax_start(wp, lnum);
 
-    for (int i = 0; i < current_state.ga_len; ++i) {
-      if (CUR_STATE(i).si_flags & HL_FOLD) {
-        ++level;
+    // Start with the fold level at the start of the line.
+    level = syn_cur_foldlevel();
+
+    if (wp->w_s->b_syn_foldlevel == SYNFLD_MINIMUM) {
+      // Find the lowest fold level that is followed by a higher one.
+      int cur_level = level;
+      int low_level = cur_level;
+      while (!current_finished) {
+        (void)syn_current_attr(false, false, NULL, false);
+        cur_level = syn_cur_foldlevel();
+        if (cur_level < low_level) {
+          low_level = cur_level;
+        } else if (cur_level > low_level) {
+          level = low_level;
+        }
+        current_col++;
       }
     }
   }
diff --git a/src/nvim/testdir/test_syntax.vim b/src/nvim/testdir/test_syntax.vim
index 6cada1503f..85ee42420e 100644
--- a/src/nvim/testdir/test_syntax.vim
+++ b/src/nvim/testdir/test_syntax.vim
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ endfunc
 
 func Test_syntax_completion()
   call feedkeys(":syn \<C-A>\<C-B>\"\<CR>", 'tx')
-  call assert_equal('"syn case clear cluster conceal enable include iskeyword keyword list manual match off on region reset spell sync', @:)
+  call assert_equal('"syn case clear cluster conceal enable foldlevel include iskeyword keyword list manual match off on region reset spell sync', @:)
 
   call feedkeys(":syn case \<C-A>\<C-B>\"\<CR>", 'tx')
   call assert_equal('"syn case ignore match', @:)
@@ -579,3 +579,86 @@ func Test_syntax_hangs()
   set redrawtime&
   bwipe!
 endfunc
+
+func Test_syntax_foldlevel()
+  new
+  call setline(1, [
+   \ 'void f(int a)',
+   \ '{',
+   \ '    if (a == 1) {',
+   \ '        a = 0;',
+   \ '    } else if (a == 2) {',
+   \ '        a = 1;',
+   \ '    } else {',
+   \ '        a = 2;',
+   \ '    }',
+   \ '    if (a > 0) {',
+   \ '        if (a == 1) {',
+   \ '            a = 0;',
+   \ '        } /* missing newline */ } /* end of outer if */ else {',
+   \ '        a = 1;',
+   \ '    }',
+   \ '    if (a == 1)',
+   \ '    {',
+   \ '        a = 0;',
+   \ '    }',
+   \ '    else if (a == 2)',
+   \ '    {',
+   \ '        a = 1;',
+   \ '    }',
+   \ '    else',
+   \ '    {',
+   \ '        a = 2;',
+   \ '    }',
+   \ '}',
+   \ ])
+  setfiletype c
+  syntax on
+  set foldmethod=syntax
+
+  call assert_fails('syn foldlevel start start', 'E390')
+  call assert_fails('syn foldlevel not_an_option', 'E390')
+
+  set foldlevel=1
+
+  syn foldlevel start
+  redir @c
+  syn foldlevel
+  redir END
+  call assert_equal("\nsyntax foldlevel start", @c)
+  syn sync fromstart
+  let a = map(range(3,9), 'foldclosed(v:val)')
+  call assert_equal([3,3,3,3,3,3,3], a) " attached cascade folds together
+  let a = map(range(10,15), 'foldclosed(v:val)')
+  call assert_equal([10,10,10,10,10,10], a) " over-attached 'else' hidden
+  let a = map(range(16,27), 'foldclosed(v:val)')
+  let unattached_results = [-1,17,17,17,-1,21,21,21,-1,25,25,25]
+  call assert_equal(unattached_results, a) " unattached cascade folds separately
+
+  syn foldlevel minimum
+  redir @c
+  syn foldlevel
+  redir END
+  call assert_equal("\nsyntax foldlevel minimum", @c)
+  syn sync fromstart
+  let a = map(range(3,9), 'foldclosed(v:val)')
+  call assert_equal([3,3,5,5,7,7,7], a) " attached cascade folds separately
+  let a = map(range(10,15), 'foldclosed(v:val)')
+  call assert_equal([10,10,10,13,13,13], a) " over-attached 'else' visible
+  let a = map(range(16,27), 'foldclosed(v:val)')
+  call assert_equal(unattached_results, a) " unattached cascade folds separately
+
+  set foldlevel=2
+
+  syn foldlevel start
+  syn sync fromstart
+  let a = map(range(11,14), 'foldclosed(v:val)')
+  call assert_equal([11,11,11,-1], a) " over-attached 'else' hidden
+
+  syn foldlevel minimum
+  syn sync fromstart
+  let a = map(range(11,14), 'foldclosed(v:val)')
+  call assert_equal([11,11,-1,-1], a) " over-attached 'else' visible
+
+  quit!
+endfunc