diff --git a/gtkcalls_unix.go b/gtkcalls_unix.go
index 8f202b3..fdd3d61 100644
--- a/gtkcalls_unix.go
+++ b/gtkcalls_unix.go
@@ -247,8 +247,16 @@ func gtk_label_new() *C.GtkWidget {
 	// there's a function gtk_label_set_justify() that indicates GTK_JUSTIFY_LEFT is the default
 	// but this actually is NOT the control justification, just the multi-line justification
 	// so we need to do THIS instead
+	// this will valign to the center, which is what the HIG says (https://developer.gnome.org/hig-book/3.4/design-text-labels.html.en) for all controls that label to the side; thankfully this means we don't need to do any extra positioning magic
 	// this will also valign to the top
 	// thanks to mclasen in irc.gimp.net/#gtk+
+	C.gtk_misc_set_alignment((*C.GtkMisc)(unsafe.Pointer(label)), 0, 0.5)
+	return label
+}
+
+func gtk_label_new_standalone() *C.GtkWidget {
+	label := gtk_label_new()
+	// this will valign to the top
 	C.gtk_misc_set_alignment((*C.GtkMisc)(unsafe.Pointer(label)), 0, 0)
 	return label
 }
diff --git a/label.go b/label.go
index c5e2ea8..dfb6cb1 100644
--- a/label.go
+++ b/label.go
@@ -8,15 +8,18 @@ import (
 
 // A Label is a static line of text used to mark other controls.
 // Label text is drawn on a single line; text that does not fit is truncated.
-// TODO vertical alignment
+// A Label can appear in one of two places: bound to a control or standalone.
+// This determines the vertical alignment of the label.
 type Label struct {
 	lock     sync.Mutex
 	created  bool
 	sysData  *sysData
 	initText string
+	standalone	bool
 }
 
 // NewLabel creates a new Label with the specified text.
+// The label is set to be bound to a control, so its vertical position depends on its vertical cell size in an implementation-defined manner.
 func NewLabel(text string) *Label {
 	return &Label{
 		sysData:  mksysdata(c_label),
@@ -24,6 +27,16 @@ func NewLabel(text string) *Label {
 	}
 }
 
+// NewStandaloneLabel creates a new Label with the specified text.
+// The label is set to be standalone, so its vertical position will always be at the top of the vertical space assigned to it.
+func NewStandaloneLabel(text string) *Label {
+	return &Label{
+		sysData:  mksysdata(c_label),
+		initText: text,
+		standalone:	true,
+	}
+}
+
 // SetText sets the Label's text.
 func (l *Label) SetText(text string) {
 	l.lock.Lock()
@@ -51,6 +64,7 @@ func (l *Label) make(window *sysData) error {
 	l.lock.Lock()
 	defer l.lock.Unlock()
 
+	l.sysData.alternate = l.standalone
 	err := l.sysData.make(window)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
diff --git a/sysdata_unix.go b/sysdata_unix.go
index 086080c..c7a41f0 100644
--- a/sysdata_unix.go
+++ b/sysdata_unix.go
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ var classTypes = [nctypes]*classData{
 	},
 	c_label: &classData{
 		make:    gtk_label_new,
+		makeAlt:	gtk_label_new_standalone,
 		setText: gtk_label_set_text,
 		text:    gtk_label_get_text,
 	},