diff --git a/docs/reference.md b/docs/reference.md
index 8a535dd..5fb0613 100644
--- a/docs/reference.md
+++ b/docs/reference.md
@@ -20,6 +20,24 @@ Run a shell command. Commands are interpreted by `mvdan.cc/sh` (a bash-like
 shell in Go), so quoting, parameter expansion, and redirections generally work
 as expected.
 
+### `>` command continuation
+
+Continue the previous command. Continuation lines are appended to the command
+with newline separators before the command is run:
+
+```cmdt
+$ cat > fixture.txt <<'EOF'
+> alpha
+> beta
+> EOF
+
+$ cat fixture.txt
+1 alpha
+1 beta
+```
+
+Continuation payloads are raw shell text.
+
 ### `1` / `2` output
 
 Match an output line from the previous command:
diff --git a/docs/user-guide.md b/docs/user-guide.md
index 7f05077..bf7aceb 100644
--- a/docs/user-guide.md
+++ b/docs/user-guide.md
@@ -66,6 +66,19 @@ If output is large, or if the output is binary, transcripts can reference an
 external file via `1<`/`2<`. `transcript update` will automatically create
 numbered `*.bin` files for binary output.
 
+Commands may be multiline, such as when using shell heredocs to create
+readable fixtures. Use `>` continuation lines after the first command line:
+
+```cmdt
+$ cat > config.txt <<'EOF'
+> name = "example"
+> enabled = true
+> EOF
+
+$ mytool config.txt
+1 loaded example
+```
+
 ## Go Tests
 
 You can embed `*.cmdt` scripts in Go tests:
diff --git a/internal/core/interp.go b/internal/core/interp.go
index 142c90b..dcc2e57 100644
--- a/internal/core/interp.go
+++ b/internal/core/interp.go
@@ -22,6 +22,9 @@ type Interpreter struct {
 	// Private state.
 	acceptResults bool
 	prevFD        int // stdout (1), stderr (2) or none (0).
+
+	commandPending bool
+	commandLines   []string
 }
 
 // Handler provides callbacks for processing transcript operations.
@@ -86,6 +89,9 @@ func (t *Interpreter) ExecTranscript(ctx context.Context, r io.Reader) error {
 func (t *Interpreter) ExecLine(ctx context.Context, text string) error {
 	hdlr := t.Handler
 	if strings.TrimSpace(text) == "" || text[0] == '#' {
+		if err := t.runPendingCommand(ctx); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 		return hdlr.HandleComment(ctx, text)
 	}
 	parts := strings.SplitN(text, " ", 2)
@@ -99,12 +105,22 @@ func (t *Interpreter) ExecLine(ctx context.Context, text string) error {
 		if err := t.flushCommand(ctx); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-		t.Command = payload
 		t.CommandLineno = t.Lineno
-		t.acceptResults = true
-		return hdlr.HandleRun(ctx, payload)
+		t.commandPending = true
+		t.commandLines = []string{payload}
+		return nil
+
+	case ">":
+		if !t.commandPending {
+			return t.syntaxErrorf("unexpected command continuation")
+		}
+		t.commandLines = append(t.commandLines, payload)
+		return nil
 
 	case "1", "2":
+		if err := t.runPendingCommand(ctx); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 		if !t.acceptResults {
 			return t.syntaxErrorf("unexpected output check")
 		}
@@ -113,6 +129,9 @@ func (t *Interpreter) ExecLine(ctx context.Context, text string) error {
 		return hdlr.HandleOutput(ctx, fd, payload)
 
 	case "1<", "2<":
+		if err := t.runPendingCommand(ctx); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 		if !t.acceptResults {
 			return t.syntaxErrorf("unexpected file output check")
 		}
@@ -121,6 +140,9 @@ func (t *Interpreter) ExecLine(ctx context.Context, text string) error {
 		return hdlr.HandleFileOutput(ctx, fd, payload)
 
 	case "?":
+		if err := t.runPendingCommand(ctx); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 		if !t.acceptResults {
 			return t.syntaxErrorf("unexpected exit status check")
 		}
@@ -133,6 +155,9 @@ func (t *Interpreter) ExecLine(ctx context.Context, text string) error {
 		return err
 
 	case "%":
+		if err := t.runPendingCommand(ctx); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 		parts := strings.SplitN(payload, " ", 2)
 		directive := parts[0]
 		var payload string
@@ -165,10 +190,24 @@ func (t *Interpreter) ExecLine(ctx context.Context, text string) error {
 	}
 }
 
+func (t *Interpreter) runPendingCommand(ctx context.Context) error {
+	if !t.commandPending {
+		return nil
+	}
+	t.Command = strings.Join(t.commandLines, "\n")
+	t.commandPending = false
+	t.commandLines = nil
+	t.acceptResults = true
+	return t.Handler.HandleRun(ctx, t.Command)
+}
+
 func (t *Interpreter) flushCommand(ctx context.Context) error {
 	if t.CommandLineno == 0 {
 		return nil
 	}
+	if err := t.runPendingCommand(ctx); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	t.prevFD = 0
 	return t.Handler.HandleEnd(ctx)
 }
diff --git a/internal/core/recorder.go b/internal/core/recorder.go
index b0d741d..e795d9b 100644
--- a/internal/core/recorder.go
+++ b/internal/core/recorder.go
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ func (rec *Recorder) RunCommand(ctx context.Context, command string) (*CommandRe
 		fmt.Fprintln(&rec.Transcript)
 		rec.needsBlank = false
 	}
-	fmt.Fprintf(&rec.Transcript, "$ %s\n", command)
+	rec.recordCommand(command)
 	afterCommandMark := rec.Transcript.Len()
 
 	// Execute command and record output.
@@ -246,6 +246,18 @@ func (rec *Recorder) RecordComment(text string) {
 	rec.needsBlank = false
 }
 
+func (rec *Recorder) recordCommand(command string) {
+	lines := strings.Split(command, "\n")
+	fmt.Fprintf(&rec.Transcript, "$ %s\n", lines[0])
+	for _, line := range lines[1:] {
+		if line == "" {
+			fmt.Fprintln(&rec.Transcript, ">")
+		} else {
+			fmt.Fprintf(&rec.Transcript, "> %s\n", line)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 func (rec *Recorder) Exited() bool {
 	return rec.runner.Exited()
 }
diff --git a/tests/multiline-command-blocks/test.cmdt b/tests/multiline-command-blocks/test.cmdt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b8bdba6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/multiline-command-blocks/test.cmdt
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+# Multiline heredoc commands should use explicit continuation opcodes.
+$ cat > fixture.txt <<'EOF'
+> alpha
+> beta
+> # This is fixture data, not a transcript comment.
+> $ This is fixture data, not a transcript command.
+> 1 This is fixture data, not expected output.
+> EOF
+
+$ cat fixture.txt
+1 alpha
+1 beta
+1 # This is fixture data, not a transcript comment.
+1 $ This is fixture data, not a transcript command.
+1 1 This is fixture data, not expected output.
+
+# Multiline quoted strings.
+$ printf '%s' 'line one
+> line two
+> '
+1 line one
+1 line two
+
+# Multiline shell blocks.
+$ if true; then
+> echo selected
+> fi
+1 selected
+
+# Multiple heredocs in one command should consume their bodies in shell order.
+$ cat > left.txt <<'LEFT' && cat > right.txt <<'RIGHT'
+> left value
+> LEFT
+> right value
+> RIGHT
+
+$ paste -d / left.txt right.txt
+1 left value/right value
diff --git a/tests/update-multiline-command-blocks/source.cmdt b/tests/update-multiline-command-blocks/source.cmdt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a64ee3d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/update-multiline-command-blocks/source.cmdt
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+$ cat > fixture.txt <<'EOF'
+> alpha
+> beta
+> EOF
+
+$ cat fixture.txt
+1 stale
diff --git a/tests/update-multiline-command-blocks/test.cmdt b/tests/update-multiline-command-blocks/test.cmdt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..942e305
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/update-multiline-command-blocks/test.cmdt
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+# Update should preserve multiline command continuations while refreshing assertions.
+
+$ transcript update --dry-run source.cmdt
+1 $ cat > fixture.txt <<'EOF'
+1 > alpha
+1 > beta
+1 > EOF
+1 
+1 $ cat fixture.txt
+1 1 alpha
+1 1 beta