diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f15db09..e5f62a9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -63,6 +63,11 @@ Note too that the `ar` and `ir` text objects always position your cursor on
 the `end` keyword. If you want to move to the top of the selection, you can do
 so with the `o` key.
 
+By default `ir` ignores middle keywords like `else` and `when`, but you can have
+`ir` acknowledge them by putting this in your .vimrc
+
+    let g:textobj_rubyblock_mids = 1
+
 Limitations
 -----------
 
diff --git a/plugin/textobj/rubyblock.vim b/plugin/textobj/rubyblock.vim
index e0e5ad1..07520f1 100644
--- a/plugin/textobj/rubyblock.vim
+++ b/plugin/textobj/rubyblock.vim
@@ -13,11 +13,18 @@ call textobj#user#plugin('rubyblock', {
 
 " Misc.  "{{{1
 let s:comment_escape = '\v^[^#]*'
-let s:block_openers = '\zs(<def>|<if>|<do>|<module>|<class>)'
+let s:block_openers = '\zs(<def>|<if>|<unless>|<do>|<module>|<class>|<case>'
+let s:block_openers .= '|<for>|<while>|<until>|<begin>)'
 let s:start_pattern = s:comment_escape . s:block_openers
+let s:mid_pattern = s:comment_escape
+let s:mid_pattern .= '\zs(<else>|<elsif>|<when>|<rescue>|<ensure>)'
 let s:end_pattern = s:comment_escape . '\zs<end>'
 let s:skip_pattern = 'getline(".") =~ "\\v\\S\\s<(if|unless)>\\s\\S"'
 
+if !exists('g:textobj_rubyblock_mids')
+  let g:textobj_rubyblock_mids = 0
+endif
+
 function! s:select_a()
   let s:flags = 'W'
 
@@ -37,15 +44,35 @@ function! s:select_i()
     let s:flags = 'cW'
   endif
 
-  call searchpair(s:start_pattern,'',s:end_pattern, s:flags, s:skip_pattern)
+  let l:mid = ''
+  if g:textobj_rubyblock_mids
+    let l:mid = s:mid_pattern
+  endif
+
+  call searchpair(s:start_pattern,l:mid,s:end_pattern, s:flags, s:skip_pattern)
 
   " Move up one line, and save position
   normal k^
   let end_pos = getpos('.')
 
-  " Move down again, jump to match, then down one line and save position
-  normal j^%j
-  let start_pos = getpos('.')
+  if g:textobj_rubyblock_mids
+    " Move down again, find match right before, and save position
+    normal j^
+    let l:last_position = getpos('.')
+    let l:start_line = l:last_position[1]
+    normal %
+    while getpos('.')[1] != l:start_line
+      let l:last_position = getpos('.')
+      normal %
+    endwhile
+    call setpos('.', l:last_position)
+    normal j^
+    let start_pos = getpos('.')
+  else
+    " Move down again, jump to match, then down one line and save position
+    normal j^%j
+    let start_pos = getpos('.')
+  endif
 
   return ['V', start_pos, end_pos]
 endfunction
diff --git a/t/examples.rb b/t/examples.rb
index 9dbd0ad..fe5c03f 100644
--- a/t/examples.rb
+++ b/t/examples.rb
@@ -65,3 +65,28 @@ def hello
   bar
 end
 
+def method_with_while
+  var1 = 1
+  i = 0
+  while i < 10
+    i += 1
+  end
+  var2 = 2
+end
+
+def method_with_unless
+  var1 = 1
+  unless condition
+    puts 'foo'
+  end
+  var2 = 2
+end
+
+def method_with_if_else
+  if condition
+    foo = 'foo'
+    bar = 'bar'
+  else
+    baz = 'baz'
+  end
+end
diff --git a/t/rubyblock_test.vim b/t/rubyblock_test.vim
index dd55ffa..4d2b355 100644
--- a/t/rubyblock_test.vim
+++ b/t/rubyblock_test.vim
@@ -86,6 +86,47 @@ describe '<Plug>(textobj-rubyblock-a)'
 
 end
 
+describe 'nested while and unless blocks'
+
+  before
+    silent tabnew t/examples.rb
+  end
+
+  after
+    silent tabclose
+  end
+
+  it 'ignores nested while and unless blocks'
+    Expect SelectAroundFrom(69, '^') ==# [69, 68, 75]
+    Expect SelectAroundFrom(78, '^') ==# [78, 77, 83]
+  end
+
+end
+
+describe 'g:textobj_rubyblock_mids'
+  before
+    silent tabnew t/examples.rb
+  end
+
+  after
+    silent tabclose
+  end
+
+  context '1'
+    it 'selects only between mids'
+      let g:textobj_rubyblock_mids = 1
+      Expect SelectInsideFrom(87, '^') ==# [87, 87, 88]
+    end
+  end
+
+  context '0'
+    it 'ignores mids'
+      let g:textobj_rubyblock_mids = 0
+      Expect SelectInsideFrom(87, '^') ==# [87, 87, 90]
+    end
+  end
+end
+
 describe '<Plug>(textobj-rubyblock-i)'
 
   before