diff --git a/imag-counter/src/create.rs b/imag-counter/src/create.rs
index 3b3ccb6c..8bfcba67 100644
--- a/imag-counter/src/create.rs
+++ b/imag-counter/src/create.rs
@@ -15,13 +15,16 @@ pub fn create(rt: &Runtime) {
                 .value_of("initval")
                 .and_then(|i| FromStr::from_str(i).ok())
                 .unwrap_or(0);
+            let unit = scmd
+                .value_of("unit")
+                .unwrap_or("unit");
 
-            match Counter::new(rt.store(), String::from(name), init) {
+            match Counter::new(rt.store(), String::from(name), init, String::from(unit)) {
                 Err(e) => {
-                    warn!("Could not create Counter '{}' with initial value '{}'", name, init);
+                    warn!("Could not create Counter '{}' with initial value '{} {}'", name, init, unit);
                     trace_error_exit(&e, 1);
                 },
-                Ok(_) => info!("Created Counter '{}' with initial value '{}'", name, init),
+                Ok(_) => info!("Created Counter '{}' with initial value '{} {}'", name, init, unit),
             }
         });
 }
diff --git a/imag-counter/src/list.rs b/imag-counter/src/list.rs
index 57f1ef32..59651a4c 100644
--- a/imag-counter/src/list.rs
+++ b/imag-counter/src/list.rs
@@ -13,13 +13,16 @@ pub fn list(rt: &Runtime) {
                     counter.map(|c| {
                         let name    = c.name();
                         let value   = c.value();
+                        let unit    = c.unit();
 
                         if name.is_err() {
                             trace_error(&name.unwrap_err());
                         } else if value.is_err() {
                             trace_error(&value.unwrap_err());
+                        } else if unit.is_err() {
+                            trace_error(&unit.unwrap_err());
                         } else {
-                            println!("{} - {}", name.unwrap(), value.unwrap());
+                            println!("{} - {} {}", name.unwrap(), value.unwrap(), unit.unwrap());
                         }
                     })
                     .map_err(|e| trace_error(&e))
diff --git a/imag-counter/src/ui.rs b/imag-counter/src/ui.rs
index b942498d..2218076e 100644
--- a/imag-counter/src/ui.rs
+++ b/imag-counter/src/ui.rs
@@ -48,7 +48,14 @@ pub fn build_ui<'a>(app: App<'a, 'a>) -> App<'a, 'a> {
                         .takes_value(true)
                         .required(false)
                         .help("Initial value")
-                        .value_name("VALUE")))
+                        .value_name("VALUE"))
+                    .arg(Arg::with_name("unit")
+                        .long("unit")
+                        .short("u")
+                        .takes_value(true)
+                        .required(false)
+                        .help("measurement unit")
+                        .value_name("UNIT")))
 
         .subcommand(SubCommand::with_name("delete")
                    .about("Delete a counter")
diff --git a/libimagcounter/src/counter.rs b/libimagcounter/src/counter.rs
index a93046f7..04e186f5 100644
--- a/libimagcounter/src/counter.rs
+++ b/libimagcounter/src/counter.rs
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ use error::CounterError as CE;
 use error::CounterErrorKind as CEK;
 
 pub type CounterName = String;
+pub type CounterUnit = String;
 
 pub struct Counter<'a> {
     fle: FileLockEntry<'a>,
@@ -23,7 +24,7 @@ pub struct Counter<'a> {
 
 impl<'a> Counter<'a> {
 
-    pub fn new(store: &Store, name: CounterName, init: i64) -> Result<Counter> {
+    pub fn new(store: &Store, name: CounterName, init: i64, unit: CounterUnit) -> Result<Counter> {
         use std::ops::DerefMut;
 
         debug!("Creating new counter: '{}' with value: {}", name, init);
@@ -51,6 +52,11 @@ impl<'a> Counter<'a> {
                 if setres.is_err() {
                     return Err(CE::new(CEK::StoreWriteError, Some(Box::new(setres.unwrap_err()))));
                 }
+
+                let setres = header.set("counter.unit", Value::String(unit));
+                if setres.is_err() {
+                    return Err(CE::new(CEK::StoreWriteError, Some(Box::new(setres.unwrap_err()))));
+                }
             }
 
             lockentry
@@ -121,6 +127,17 @@ impl<'a> Counter<'a> {
             })
     }
 
+    pub fn unit(&self) -> Result<CounterUnit> {
+        self.fle.get_header().read("counter.unit")
+            .map_err(|e| CE::new(CEK::StoreWriteError, Some(Box::new(e))))
+            .and_then(|u| {
+                match u {
+                    Some(Value::String(s)) => Ok(s),
+                    _ => Err(CE::new(CEK::HeaderTypeError, None)),
+                }
+            })
+    }
+
     pub fn load(name: CounterName, store: &Store) -> Result<Counter> {
         debug!("Loading counter: '{}'", name);
         match store.retrieve(ModuleEntryPath::new(name).into_storeid()) {