diff --git a/autoload/vimwiki/html.vim b/autoload/vimwiki/html.vim
index 584985f..a35e422 100644
--- a/autoload/vimwiki/html.vim
+++ b/autoload/vimwiki/html.vim
@@ -979,7 +979,11 @@ function! s:process_tag_para(line, para) "{{{
       let para = 1
     endif
     let processed = 1
-    call add(lines, a:line)
+    if g:vimwiki_text_ignore_newline == 1
+      call add(lines, a:line)
+    else
+      call add(lines, a:line."<br />")
+    endif
   elseif para && a:line =~# '^\s*$'
     call add(lines, "</p>")
     let para = 0
diff --git a/doc/vimwiki.txt b/doc/vimwiki.txt
index 9cc5dd9..08cf581 100644
--- a/doc/vimwiki.txt
+++ b/doc/vimwiki.txt
@@ -2302,6 +2302,19 @@ Value           Description~
 Default: 1
 
 
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+*g:vimwiki_text_ignore_newline*
+
+This is HTML related.
+Convert newlines to <br />s in text.
+
+Value           Description~
+0               Newlines in text are converted to <br />s.
+1               Ignore newlines.
+
+Default: 1
+
+
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 *g:vimwiki_use_calendar*
 
diff --git a/plugin/vimwiki.vim b/plugin/vimwiki.vim
index d7abb6c..ddb4b35 100644
--- a/plugin/vimwiki.vim
+++ b/plugin/vimwiki.vim
@@ -369,6 +369,7 @@ call s:default('ext2syntax', {}) " syntax map keyed on extension
 call s:default('hl_headers', 0)
 call s:default('hl_cb_checked', 0)
 call s:default('list_ignore_newline', 1)
+call s:default('text_ignore_newline', 1)
 call s:default('listsyms', ' .oOX')
 call s:default('use_calendar', 1)
 call s:default('table_mappings', 1)