diff --git a/src/lib/buffer/position.v b/src/lib/buffer/position.v
index 68f3fd29..2200775a 100644
--- a/src/lib/buffer/position.v
+++ b/src/lib/buffer/position.v
@@ -37,6 +37,13 @@ pub fn (p Position) add(d Distance) Position {
 	}
 }
 
+pub fn (a Position) distance(b Position) Distance {
+	return Distance{
+		lines:  if a < b { b.line - a.line } else { a.line - b.line }
+		offset: if a < b { b.offset - a.offset } else { a.offset - b.offset }
+	}
+}
+
 pub fn (mut p Position) apply(d Distance) {
 	p = p.add(d)
 }
diff --git a/src/lib/buffer/position_test.v b/src/lib/buffer/position_test.v
index 3884a8ca..6992dc14 100644
--- a/src/lib/buffer/position_test.v
+++ b/src/lib/buffer/position_test.v
@@ -144,3 +144,41 @@ fn test_compare_works_when_lines_and_offsets_are_not_equal() {
 
 	assert position_a != position_b
 }
+
+fn test_distance_between_a_lines_larger() {
+	position_a := Position{
+		line:   11
+		offset: 3
+	}
+	position_b := Position{
+		line:   8
+		offset: 3
+	}
+
+	assert position_a.distance(position_b) == Distance{
+		lines: 3
+	}
+	assert position_b.distance(position_a) == Distance{
+		lines: 3
+	}
+}
+
+fn test_distance_between_b_lines_larger() {
+	position_a := Position{
+		line:   11
+		offset: 3
+	}
+	position_b := Position{
+		line:   85
+		offset: 9
+	}
+
+	assert position_a.distance(position_b) == Distance{
+		lines:  74
+		offset: 6
+	}
+	assert position_b.distance(position_a) == Distance{
+		lines:  74
+		offset: 6
+	}
+}