diff --git a/include/notcurses/notcurses.h b/include/notcurses/notcurses.h
index 66c78de45..8e776e855 100644
--- a/include/notcurses/notcurses.h
+++ b/include/notcurses/notcurses.h
@@ -1519,6 +1519,8 @@ ncplane_vprintf(struct ncplane* n, const char* format, va_list ap){
   return ncplane_vprintf_yx(n, -1, -1, format, ap);
 }
 
+API int ncplane_vprintf_stainable(struct ncplane* n, const char* format, va_list ap);
+
 static inline int
 ncplane_printf(struct ncplane* n, const char* format, ...)
   __attribute__ ((format (printf, 2, 3)));
@@ -1559,6 +1561,19 @@ ncplane_printf_aligned(struct ncplane* n, int y, ncalign_e align, const char* fo
   return ret;
 }
 
+static inline int
+ncplane_printf_stainable(struct ncplane* n, const char* format, ...)
+  __attribute__ ((format (printf, 2, 3)));
+
+static inline int
+ncplane_printf_stainable(struct ncplane* n, const char* format, ...){
+  va_list va;
+  va_start(va, format);
+  int ret = ncplane_vprintf_stainable(n, format, va);
+  va_end(va);
+  return ret;
+}
+
 // Write the specified text to the plane, breaking lines sensibly, beginning at
 // the specified line. Returns the number of columns written. When breaking a
 // line, the line will be cleared to the end of the plane (the last line will
diff --git a/src/lib/notcurses.c b/src/lib/notcurses.c
index 9da81874b..042f26033 100644
--- a/src/lib/notcurses.c
+++ b/src/lib/notcurses.c
@@ -1456,6 +1456,16 @@ int ncplane_vprintf_aligned(ncplane* n, int y, ncalign_e align,
   return ret;
 }
 
+int ncplane_vprintf_stainable(struct ncplane* n, const char* format, va_list ap){
+  char* r = ncplane_vprintf_prep(format, ap);
+  if(r == NULL){
+    return -1;
+  }
+  int ret = ncplane_putstr_stainable(n, r);
+  free(r);
+  return ret;
+}
+
 int ncplane_hline_interp(ncplane* n, const cell* c, int len,
                          uint64_t c1, uint64_t c2){
   unsigned ur, ug, ub;