diff --git a/mode/hex.py b/mode/hex.py
index a01fba9..d0260e9 100644
--- a/mode/hex.py
+++ b/mode/hex.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-import string, struct
+import re, string, struct
+from subprocess import Popen, PIPE, STDOUT
 import color, mode
 from lex import Grammar, PatternRule, RegionRule
 from method import Method, Argument
@@ -6,6 +7,9 @@ from point import Point
 
 class Hex(mode.Fundamental):
     modename = 'Hex'
+    config = {
+        'hex.disinst': 'disinst',
+    }
     lmargin  = 12
     rmargin  = 18
     _ctrans  = ['.'] * 256
@@ -88,6 +92,7 @@ class Hex(mode.Fundamental):
         self.add_action_and_bindings(HexReadAligned('double', 'd'), ('C-c d',))
 
         self.add_action_and_bindings(ShowAddress(), ('C-c a',))
+        self.add_action_and_bindings(ShowX86Instruction(), ('C-c x',))
         self.add_action_and_bindings(GotoAddress(), ('C-c M-g',))
 
         # create all the insert actions for the basic text input
@@ -129,15 +134,16 @@ class Hex(mode.Fundamental):
             else:
                 return ((0, s, self.cgreen),)
 
-    def read_data(self, cy, ix, fmt, size):
+    def read_data(self, cy, ix, size):
         b  = self.window.buffer
         s = b.rawdata[cy][ix:]
         if len(s) < size:
             if cy < len(b.rawdata) - 1:
                 s += b.rawdata[cy + 1]
-            else:
-                return None
         s = s[:size]
+        return s
+    def read_struct(self, cy, ix, fmt, size):
+        s = self.read_data(cy, ix, size)
         return struct.unpack(fmt, s)[0]
 
 class HexForward(Method):
@@ -194,7 +200,7 @@ class HexRead(Method):
         ix = self._get_ix(b, cy, cx)
         addr = b.get_address(cy, 0) + ix
         try:
-            v = w.mode.read_data(cy, ix, self.fmt, self.size)
+            v = w.mode.read_struct(cy, ix, self.fmt, self.size)
             if v is None:
                 w.set_error("not enough data to read %s" % self.type_)
             else:
@@ -228,6 +234,27 @@ class HexOverwriteChar(Method):
         while w.cursor_char().isspace() and w.cursor < end:
             w.forward()
 
+class ShowX86Instruction(Method):
+    ''''''
+    size_re = re.compile(r'X86 insn \((\d+) bytes\):')
+    def _execute(self, w, **vargs):
+        disinst = w.application.config.get('hex.disinst')
+        (cx, cy) = w.cursor.xy()
+        ix = w.buffer.cursorx_to_datax(cy, cx)
+        data = w.mode.read_data(cy, ix, 13)
+        data = ''.join(['%02x' % ord(c) for c in data])
+        try:
+            p      = Popen((disinst, data), stdout=PIPE, stderr=STDOUT)
+            lines  = [l.strip() for l in p.stdout.readlines()]
+            result = p.wait()
+            m = self.size_re.match(lines[0])
+            assert m
+            size = int(m.group(1))
+            data = data[:size]
+            w.set_error("%s %s" % (data, lines[1]))
+        except Exception, e:
+            w.set_error("there was an error")
+
 class GotoAddress(Method):
     '''Jump to the specified line number'''
     args = [Argument("address", type=type(0), prompt="Goto address: ")]
@@ -241,6 +268,7 @@ class GotoAddress(Method):
         cy = addr // (b.groupsize * b.numgroups)
         w.goto(Point(cx, cy))
         w.set_error("Goto 0x%08x (%r, %r)" % (addr, cx, cy))
+
 class ShowAddress(Method):
     '''Show the cursor's address in the current buffer'''
     def _execute(self, w, **vargs):