diff --git a/dr_botzo/twitter/ircplugin.py b/dr_botzo/twitter/ircplugin.py
index 1df3dfd..6e97c94 100644
--- a/dr_botzo/twitter/ircplugin.py
+++ b/dr_botzo/twitter/ircplugin.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 """Access to Twitter through bot commands."""
 
 import logging
+import threading
 import time
 
 import twython
@@ -49,6 +50,10 @@ class Twitter(Plugin):
                                                          self.handle_auth, -20)
         self.connection.reactor.add_global_regex_handler(['pubmsg', 'privmsg'], r'^!twitter\s+replyto\s+(\S+)\s+(.*)',
                                                          self.handle_replyto, -20)
+        self.connection.reactor.add_global_regex_handler(['pubmsg', 'privmsg'], r'^!twitter\s+mentionpoll\s+start',
+                                                         self.handle_start_mentionpoll, -20)
+        self.connection.reactor.add_global_regex_handler(['pubmsg', 'privmsg'], r'^!twitter\s+mentionpoll\s+stop',
+                                                         self.handle_stop_mentionpoll, -20)
 
         # try getting the stored auth tokens and logging in
         try:
@@ -80,11 +85,30 @@ class Twitter(Plugin):
         self.connection.reactor.remove_global_regex_handler(['pubmsg', 'privmsg'], self.handle_gettoken)
         self.connection.reactor.remove_global_regex_handler(['pubmsg', 'privmsg'], self.handle_auth)
         self.connection.reactor.remove_global_regex_handler(['pubmsg', 'privmsg'], self.handle_replyto)
+        self.connection.reactor.remove_global_regex_handler(['pubmsg', 'privmsg'], self.handle_start_mentionpoll)
+        self.connection.reactor.remove_global_regex_handler(['pubmsg', 'privmsg'], self.handle_stop_mentionpoll)
 
         self.poll_mentions = False
 
         super(Twitter, self).stop()
 
+    def handle_start_mentionpoll(self, connection, event, match):
+        if not has_permission(event.source, 'twitter.manage_threads'):
+            return self.bot.reply(event, "You do not have permission to start/stop threads.")
+
+        self.poll_mentions = True
+        t = threading.Thread(target=self.thread_watch_mentions)
+        t.daemon = True
+        t.start()
+        self.bot.reply(event, "Now polling for mentions.")
+
+    def handle_stop_mentionpoll(self, connection, event, match):
+        if not has_permission(event.source, 'twitter.manage_threads'):
+            return self.bot.reply(event, "You do not have permission to start/stop threads.")
+
+        self.poll_mentions = False
+        self.bot.reply(event, "No longer polling for mentions.")
+
     def handle_getstatus(self, connection, event, match):
         """Get a status by tweet ID."""
 
diff --git a/dr_botzo/twitter/migrations/0006_add_manage_threads_permission.py b/dr_botzo/twitter/migrations/0006_add_manage_threads_permission.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d154df5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dr_botzo/twitter/migrations/0006_add_manage_threads_permission.py
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+from __future__ import unicode_literals
+
+from django.db import migrations, models
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+
+    dependencies = [
+        ('twitter', '0005_replace_since_id_with_replies_specific_one'),
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.AlterModelOptions(
+            name='twitterclient',
+            options={'permissions': (('send_tweets', 'Can send tweets via IRC'), ('manage_threads', 'Can start/stop polling threads via IRC'))},
+        ),
+    ]
diff --git a/dr_botzo/twitter/models.py b/dr_botzo/twitter/models.py
index ea73f98..0020c4b 100644
--- a/dr_botzo/twitter/models.py
+++ b/dr_botzo/twitter/models.py
@@ -24,4 +24,5 @@ class TwitterClient(models.Model):
     class Meta:
         permissions = (
             ('send_tweets', "Can send tweets via IRC"),
+            ('manage_threads', "Can start/stop polling threads via IRC"),
         )