diff --git a/doc/panelctl.xml b/doc/panelctl.xml
index 318bc52..ef1c672 100644
--- a/doc/panelctl.xml
+++ b/doc/panelctl.xml
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 		</authorgroup>
 		<copyright>
 			<year>2012</year>
+			<year>2013</year>
 			<holder>&firstname; &surname; &lt;&email;&gt;</holder>
 		</copyright>
 		<legalnotice>
@@ -51,9 +52,13 @@
 			<command>&name;</command>
 			<group choice="plain">
 				<arg choice="plain">-B</arg>
+				<arg choice="plain">-L</arg>
+				<arg choice="plain">-R</arg>
 				<arg choice="plain">-S</arg>
 				<arg choice="plain">-T</arg>
 				<arg choice="plain">-b</arg>
+				<arg choice="plain">-l</arg>
+				<arg choice="plain">-r</arg>
 				<arg choice="plain">-t</arg>
 			</group>
 		</cmdsynopsis>
@@ -74,6 +79,18 @@
 					<para>Show the bottom panel.</para>
 				</listitem>
 			</varlistentry>
+			<varlistentry>
+				<term><option>-L</option></term>
+				<listitem>
+					<para>Show the left panel.</para>
+				</listitem>
+			</varlistentry>
+			<varlistentry>
+				<term><option>-R</option></term>
+				<listitem>
+					<para>Show the right panel.</para>
+				</listitem>
+			</varlistentry>
 			<varlistentry>
 				<term><option>-S</option></term>
 				<listitem>
@@ -92,6 +109,18 @@
 					<para>Hide the bottom panel.</para>
 				</listitem>
 			</varlistentry>
+			<varlistentry>
+				<term><option>-l</option></term>
+				<listitem>
+					<para>Hide the left panel.</para>
+				</listitem>
+			</varlistentry>
+			<varlistentry>
+				<term><option>-r</option></term>
+				<listitem>
+					<para>Hide the right panel.</para>
+				</listitem>
+			</varlistentry>
 			<varlistentry>
 				<term><option>-t</option></term>
 				<listitem>
diff --git a/include/Panel.h b/include/Panel.h
index f17a6c6..9306b72 100644
--- a/include/Panel.h
+++ b/include/Panel.h
@@ -77,7 +77,9 @@ typedef enum _PanelMessageShow
 {
 	PANEL_MESSAGE_SHOW_PANEL_BOTTOM = 0x1,
 	PANEL_MESSAGE_SHOW_PANEL_TOP = 0x2,
-	PANEL_MESSAGE_SHOW_SETTINGS = 0x4
+	PANEL_MESSAGE_SHOW_PANEL_LEFT = 0x4,
+	PANEL_MESSAGE_SHOW_PANEL_RIGHT = 0x8,
+	PANEL_MESSAGE_SHOW_SETTINGS = 0x10
 } PanelMessageShow;
 
 
diff --git a/src/panel.c b/src/panel.c
index 21388ca..789c7c5 100644
--- a/src/panel.c
+++ b/src/panel.c
@@ -410,6 +410,12 @@ static int _new_on_message(void * data, uint32_t value1, uint32_t value2,
 			if(what & PANEL_MESSAGE_SHOW_PANEL_BOTTOM
 					&& panel->bottom != NULL)
 				panel_window_show(panel->bottom, show);
+			if(what & PANEL_MESSAGE_SHOW_PANEL_LEFT
+					&& panel->left != NULL)
+				panel_window_show(panel->left, show);
+			if(what & PANEL_MESSAGE_SHOW_PANEL_RIGHT
+					&& panel->right != NULL)
+				panel_window_show(panel->right, show);
 			if(what & PANEL_MESSAGE_SHOW_PANEL_TOP
 					&& panel->top != NULL)
 				panel_window_show(panel->top, show);
diff --git a/src/panelctl.c b/src/panelctl.c
index e7371fc..267aa63 100644
--- a/src/panelctl.c
+++ b/src/panelctl.c
@@ -60,11 +60,15 @@ static int _panelctl(PanelMessageShow what, gboolean show)
 /* usage */
 static int _usage(void)
 {
-	fprintf(stderr, _("Usage: %s [-B|-S|-T|-b|-t]\n"
+	fprintf(stderr, _("Usage: %s [-B|-L|-R|-S|-T|-b|-l|-r|-t]\n"
 "  -B	Show the bottom panel\n"
+"  -L	Show the left panel\n"
+"  -R	Show the right panel\n"
 "  -S	Display or change settings\n"
 "  -T	Show the top panel\n"
 "  -b	Hide the bottom panel\n"
+"  -l	Hide the left panel\n"
+"  -r	Hide the right panel\n"
 "  -t	Hide the top panel\n"), PROGNAME);
 	return 1;
 }
@@ -83,13 +87,21 @@ int main(int argc, char * argv[])
 	bindtextdomain(PACKAGE, LOCALEDIR);
 	textdomain(PACKAGE);
 	gtk_init(&argc, &argv);
-	while((o = getopt(argc, argv, "BSTbt")) != -1)
+	while((o = getopt(argc, argv, "BLRSTblrt")) != -1)
 		switch(o)
 		{
 			case 'B':
 				what = PANEL_MESSAGE_SHOW_PANEL_BOTTOM;
 				show = TRUE;
 				break;
+			case 'L':
+				what = PANEL_MESSAGE_SHOW_PANEL_LEFT;
+				show = TRUE;
+				break;
+			case 'R':
+				what = PANEL_MESSAGE_SHOW_PANEL_RIGHT;
+				show = TRUE;
+				break;
 			case 'S':
 				what = PANEL_MESSAGE_SHOW_SETTINGS;
 				show = TRUE;
@@ -102,6 +114,14 @@ int main(int argc, char * argv[])
 				what = PANEL_MESSAGE_SHOW_PANEL_BOTTOM;
 				show = FALSE;
 				break;
+			case 'l':
+				what = PANEL_MESSAGE_SHOW_PANEL_LEFT;
+				show = FALSE;
+				break;
+			case 'r':
+				what = PANEL_MESSAGE_SHOW_PANEL_RIGHT;
+				show = FALSE;
+				break;
 			case 't':
 				what = PANEL_MESSAGE_SHOW_PANEL_TOP;
 				show = FALSE;