diff --git a/hy/lex/machine.py b/hy/lex/machine.py
index 119ca97..aebdd92 100644
--- a/hy/lex/machine.py
+++ b/hy/lex/machine.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 # DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
 
 from hy.lex.states import Idle, LexException
+from hy.models.quote import HyQuote
 
 
 class Machine(object):
@@ -28,12 +29,17 @@ class Machine(object):
     """
 
     __slots__ = ("submachine", "nodes", "state", "line", "column",
-                 "start_line", "start_column")
+                 "start_line", "start_column", "modifier")
+
+    modifiers = {
+        "`": HyQuote
+    }
 
     def __init__(self, state, line, column):
         self.nodes = []
         self.line = line
         self.column = column
+        self.modifier = None
         self.submachine = None
         self.state = None
         self.set_state(state)
@@ -71,6 +77,10 @@ class Machine(object):
             result.start_line, result.end_line = (self.start_line, self.line)
             result.start_column, result.end_column = (self.start_column,
                                                       self.column)
+            if self.modifier is not None:
+                result = self.modifier(result)
+                self.modifier = None
+
             self.nodes.append(result)
 
     def process(self, buf):
@@ -95,6 +105,10 @@ class Machine(object):
                     self.state.nodes.append(nodes[0])
                 continue
 
+            if char in self.modifiers:
+                self.modifier = self.modifiers[char]
+                continue
+
             new = self.state.process(char)
             if new:
                 self.set_state(new)
diff --git a/hy/models/quote.py b/hy/models/quote.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2612b93
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hy/models/quote.py
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2012 Paul Tagliamonte <paultag@debian.org>
+#
+# Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a
+# copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"),
+# to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation
+# the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense,
+# and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the
+# Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
+#
+# The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in
+# all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+#
+# THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+# IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
+# FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT.  IN NO EVENT SHALL
+# THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
+# LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING
+# FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER
+# DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
+
+from hy.models import HyObject
+
+
+class HyQuote(HyObject):
+    def __init__(self, obj):
+        self.obj = obj
diff --git a/tests/lex/test_lex.py b/tests/lex/test_lex.py
index b20ef22..772a775 100644
--- a/tests/lex/test_lex.py
+++ b/tests/lex/test_lex.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ from hy.models.expression import HyExpression
 from hy.models.integer import HyInteger
 from hy.models.symbol import HySymbol
 from hy.models.string import HyString
+from hy.models.quote import HyQuote
 from hy.models.dict import HyDict
 
 from hy.lex.states import LexException
@@ -143,3 +144,9 @@ def test_nospace():
 
     assert entry.end_line == 1
     assert entry.end_column == 13
+
+
+def test_lex_quoted_form():
+    objs = tokenize("`(foo 2)")
+    assert type(objs[0]) == HyQuote
+    assert type(objs[0].obj) == HyExpression