diff --git a/doc/ca65.sgml b/doc/ca65.sgml
index b0ccf6f5e..104c59bbd 100644
--- a/doc/ca65.sgml
+++ b/doc/ca65.sgml
@@ -2867,6 +2867,26 @@ See: <tt><ref id=".ASCIIZ" name=".ASCIIZ"></tt>,<tt><ref id=".CHARMAP" name=".CH
     overridden. When using this feature, you may also get into trouble if
     later versions of the assembler define new keywords starting with a dot.
 
+  <tag><tt>line_continuations</tt><label id="line_continuations"></tag>
+
+    Switch on or off line continuations using the backslash character
+    before a newline. The option is off by default.
+    Note: Line continuations do not work in a comment. A backslash at the
+    end of a comment is treated as part of the comment and does not trigger
+    line continuation.
+
+  Example:
+
+    <tscreen><verb>
+          .feature line_continuations +   ; Allow line continuations
+
+          lda     \
+                  #$20                    ; This is legal now
+    </verb></tscreen>
+
+    For backward compatibility reasons, the <tt>.LINECONT +</tt> control command
+    is also supported and enables the same feature.
+
   <tag><tt>long_jsr_jmp_rts</tt><label id="long_jsr_jmp_rts"></tag>
 
     Affects 65816 mode only.
@@ -3371,26 +3391,6 @@ See: <tt><ref id=".ASCIIZ" name=".ASCIIZ"></tt>,<tt><ref id=".CHARMAP" name=".CH
   the feature in more detail.
 
 
-<sect1><tt>.LINECONT</tt><label id=".LINECONT"><p>
-
-  Switch on or off line continuations using the backslash character
-  before a newline. The option is off by default.
-  Note: Line continuations do not work in a comment. A backslash at the
-  end of a comment is treated as part of the comment and does not trigger
-  line continuation.
-  The command can be followed by a '+' or '-' character to switch the
-  option on or off respectively.
-
-  Example:
-
-  <tscreen><verb>
-        .linecont       +               ; Allow line continuations
-
-        lda     \
-                #$20                    ; This is legal now
-  </verb></tscreen>
-
-
 <sect1><tt>.LIST</tt><label id=".LIST"><p>
 
   Enable output to the listing. The command can be followed by a boolean
@@ -4489,9 +4489,9 @@ different:
 
 <item>  Macros defined with <tt><ref id=".DEFINE" name=".DEFINE"></tt> may not
         span more than a line. You may use line continuation (see <tt><ref
-        id=".LINECONT" name=".LINECONT"></tt>) to spread the definition over
-        more than one line for increased readability, but the macro itself
-        may not contain an end-of-line token.
+        id="line_continuations" name="line_continuations"></tt>) to spread the
+        definition over more than one line for increased readability, but the
+        macro itself may not contain an end-of-line token.
 
 <item>  Macros defined with <tt><ref id=".DEFINE" name=".DEFINE"></tt> share
         the name space with classic macros, but they are detected and replaced
diff --git a/src/ca65/feature.c b/src/ca65/feature.c
index 9f5ca5876..6a38900b5 100644
--- a/src/ca65/feature.c
+++ b/src/ca65/feature.c
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ static const char* const FeatureKeys[FEAT_COUNT] = {
     "bracket_as_indirect",
     "string_escapes",
     "long_jsr_jmp_rts",
+    "line_continuations",
 };
 
 
@@ -121,6 +122,7 @@ void SetFeature (feature_t Feature, unsigned char On)
         case FEAT_BRACKET_AS_INDIRECT:        BracketAsIndirect = On;    break;
         case FEAT_STRING_ESCAPES:             StringEscapes     = On;    break;
         case FEAT_LONG_JSR_JMP_RTS:           LongJsrJmpRts     = On;    break;
+        case FEAT_LINE_CONTINUATIONS:         LineCont          = On;    break;
         default:                                                         break;
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/ca65/feature.h b/src/ca65/feature.h
index 8eeb62e6f..4d307f74d 100644
--- a/src/ca65/feature.h
+++ b/src/ca65/feature.h
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ typedef enum {
     FEAT_BRACKET_AS_INDIRECT,
     FEAT_STRING_ESCAPES,
     FEAT_LONG_JSR_JMP_RTS,
+    FEAT_LINE_CONTINUATIONS,
 
     /* Special value: Number of features available */
     FEAT_COUNT