diff --git a/plugins/vim/vim.plugin.zsh b/plugins/vim/vim.plugin.zsh
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4e16ebee3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/vim/vim.plugin.zsh
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+#check if we've shelled out from within vim
+#if VIMRUNTIME is set, it's likely the shell we are
+# in was started from vim.
+function shell_from_vim() {
+    if [[ -n $VIMRUNTIME ]]; then
+        echo 'vim';
+    fi
+}