diff --git a/doc/bspwm.1 b/doc/bspwm.1
index 8ae4851..25c4064 100644
--- a/doc/bspwm.1
+++ b/doc/bspwm.1
@@ -2,12 +2,12 @@
 .\"     Title: bspwm
 .\"    Author: [see the "Author" section]
 .\" Generator: DocBook XSL Stylesheets v1.78.1 <http://docbook.sf.net/>
-.\"      Date: 08/28/2013
+.\"      Date: 09/02/2013
 .\"    Manual: Bspwm Manual
 .\"    Source: Bspwm 0.8
 .\"  Language: English
 .\"
-.TH "BSPWM" "1" "08/28/2013" "Bspwm 0\&.8" "Bspwm Manual"
+.TH "BSPWM" "1" "09/02/2013" "Bspwm 0\&.8" "Bspwm Manual"
 .\" -----------------------------------------------------------------
 .\" * Define some portability stuff
 .\" -----------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -277,6 +277,7 @@ Select a desktop\&.
 .\}
 .nf
 DESKTOP_SEL := <desktop_name>
+             | ^<n>
              | (CYCLE_DIR|last|focused)[\&.occupied|\&.free][\&.urgent|\&.nonurgent]
 .fi
 .if n \{\
@@ -291,6 +292,16 @@ DESKTOP_SEL := <desktop_name>
 \fBPrimary Selectors\fR
 .RS 4
 .PP
+<desktop_name>
+.RS 4
+Selects the desktop with the given name\&.
+.RE
+.PP
+^<n>
+.RS 4
+Selects the nth desktop\&.
+.RE
+.PP
 \fICYCLE_DIR\fR
 .RS 4
 Selects the desktop in the given direction relative to the active desktop\&.
@@ -344,6 +355,7 @@ Select a monitor\&.
 .\}
 .nf
 MONITOR_SEL := <monitor_name>
+             | ^<n>
              | (DIR|CYCLE_DIR|last|focused)[\&.occupied|\&.free]
 .fi
 .if n \{\
@@ -358,6 +370,16 @@ MONITOR_SEL := <monitor_name>
 \fBPrimary Selectors\fR
 .RS 4
 .PP
+<monitor_name>
+.RS 4
+Selects the monitor with the given name\&.
+.RE
+.PP
+^<n>
+.RS 4
+Selects the nth monitor\&.
+.RE
+.PP
 \fIDIR\fR
 .RS 4
 Selects the monitor in the given (spacial) direction relative to the active monitor\&.
diff --git a/doc/bspwm.1.txt b/doc/bspwm.1.txt
index 0cbef3f..ef56e7f 100644
--- a/doc/bspwm.1.txt
+++ b/doc/bspwm.1.txt
@@ -197,12 +197,19 @@ Select a desktop.
 
 ----
 DESKTOP_SEL := <desktop_name>
+             | ^<n>
              | (CYCLE_DIR|last|focused)[.occupied|.free][.urgent|.nonurgent]
 ----
 
 Primary Selectors
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 
+<desktop_name>::
+    Selects the desktop with the given name.
+
+^<n>::
+    Selects the nth desktop.
+
 'CYCLE_DIR'::
     Selects the desktop in the given direction relative to the active desktop.
 
@@ -234,12 +241,19 @@ Select a monitor.
 
 ----
 MONITOR_SEL := <monitor_name>
+             | ^<n>
              | (DIR|CYCLE_DIR|last|focused)[.occupied|.free]
 ----
 
 Primary Selectors
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 
+<monitor_name>::
+    Selects the monitor with the given name.
+
+^<n>::
+    Selects the nth monitor.
+
 'DIR'::
     Selects the monitor in the given (spacial) direction relative to the active monitor.
 
diff --git a/ewmh.c b/ewmh.c
index 905ee19..72668ae 100644
--- a/ewmh.c
+++ b/ewmh.c
@@ -39,7 +39,6 @@ uint32_t ewmh_get_desktop_index(desktop_t *d)
         for (desktop_t *cd = m->desk_head; cd != NULL; cd = cd->next, i++)
             if (d == cd)
                 return i;
-
     return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/messages.c b/messages.c
index 6b02970..8aacfe9 100644
--- a/messages.c
+++ b/messages.c
@@ -926,3 +926,8 @@ bool parse_window_id(char *s, long int *i)
         *i = ret;
     return true;
 }
+
+bool parse_index(char *s, int *i)
+{
+    return sscanf(s, "^%i", i) == 1;
+}
diff --git a/messages.h b/messages.h
index 75f6efa..0a64fd9 100644
--- a/messages.h
+++ b/messages.h
@@ -31,5 +31,6 @@ bool parse_fence_move(char *, fence_move_t *);
 bool parse_pointer_action(char *, pointer_action_t *);
 bool parse_degree(char *, int *);
 bool parse_window_id(char *, long int *);
+bool parse_index(char *, int *);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/query.c b/query.c
index c25bdb0..237a9ad 100644
--- a/query.c
+++ b/query.c
@@ -205,9 +205,12 @@ bool desktop_from_desc(char *desc, coordinates_t *ref, coordinates_t *dst)
     dst->desktop = NULL;
 
     cycle_dir_t cyc;
+    int idx;
     if (parse_cycle_direction(desc, &cyc)) {
         dst->monitor = ref->monitor;
         dst->desktop = closest_desktop(ref->monitor, ref->desktop, cyc, sel);
+    } else if (parse_index(desc, &idx)) {
+        desktop_from_index(idx, dst);
     } else if (streq("last", desc)) {
         if (mon->last_desk != NULL && desktop_matches(mon->last_desk, sel)) {
             dst->monitor = mon;
@@ -245,10 +248,13 @@ bool monitor_from_desc(char *desc, coordinates_t *ref, coordinates_t *dst)
 
     direction_t dir;
     cycle_dir_t cyc;
+    int idx;
     if (parse_direction(desc, &dir)) {
         dst->monitor = nearest_monitor(ref->monitor, dir, sel);
     } else if (parse_cycle_direction(desc, &cyc)) {
         dst->monitor = closest_monitor(ref->monitor, cyc, sel);
+    } else if (parse_index(desc, &idx)) {
+        monitor_from_index(idx, dst);
     } else if (streq("last", desc)) {
         if (last_mon != NULL && desktop_matches(last_mon->desk, sel)) {
             dst->monitor = last_mon;
@@ -299,3 +305,28 @@ bool locate_monitor(char *name, coordinates_t *loc)
         }
     return false;
 }
+
+bool desktop_from_index(int i, coordinates_t *loc)
+{
+    for (monitor_t *m = mon_head; m != NULL; m = m->next)
+        for (desktop_t *d = m->desk_head; d != NULL; d = d->next, i--)
+            if (i == 1) {
+                loc->monitor = m;
+                loc->desktop = d;
+                loc->node = NULL;
+                return true;
+            }
+    return false;
+}
+
+bool monitor_from_index(int i, coordinates_t *loc)
+{
+    for (monitor_t *m = mon_head; m != NULL; m = m->next, i--)
+        if (i == 1) {
+            loc->monitor = m;
+            loc->desktop = NULL;
+            loc->node = NULL;
+            return true;
+        }
+    return false;
+}
diff --git a/query.h b/query.h
index 61baf72..1c345e1 100644
--- a/query.h
+++ b/query.h
@@ -20,5 +20,7 @@ bool locate_monitor(char *, coordinates_t *);
 bool node_from_desc(char *, coordinates_t *, coordinates_t *);
 bool desktop_from_desc(char *, coordinates_t *, coordinates_t *);
 bool monitor_from_desc(char *, coordinates_t *, coordinates_t *);
+bool desktop_from_index(int, coordinates_t *);
+bool monitor_from_index(int, coordinates_t *);
 
 #endif