diff --git a/src/mol-plugin/context.ts b/src/mol-plugin/context.ts
index e2b6b11a2b82dc459a180409464f5f5fc4090075..fbd4c0a2d424070c870272933f22f4b4daf9e38c 100644
--- a/src/mol-plugin/context.ts
+++ b/src/mol-plugin/context.ts
@@ -131,6 +131,12 @@ export class PluginContext {
         substructureParent: new SubstructureParentHelper(this)
     } as const;
 
+    /**
+     * Used to store application specific custom state which is then available
+     * to State Actions and similar constructs via the PluginContext.
+     */
+    readonly customState: any = Object.create(null);
+
     initViewer(canvas: HTMLCanvasElement, container: HTMLDivElement) {
         try {
             this.layout.setRoot(container);