diff --git a/adafruit_ht16k33/matrix.py b/adafruit_ht16k33/matrix.py
index c8f4832..b57d6e2 100755
--- a/adafruit_ht16k33/matrix.py
+++ b/adafruit_ht16k33/matrix.py
@@ -59,6 +59,8 @@ def shift(self, x, y, rotate=False):
 
         :param rotate: (Optional) Rotate the shifted pixels to the left side (default=False)
         """
+        auto_write = self.auto_write
+        self._auto_write = False
         if x > 0: # Shift Right
             for _ in range(x):
                 for row in range(0, self.rows):
@@ -87,7 +89,8 @@ def shift(self, x, y, rotate=False):
                     for row in range(0, self.rows - 1):
                         self[col, row] = self[col, row + 1]
                     self[col, self.rows - 1] = last_pixel
-        if self._auto_write:
+        self._auto_write = auto_write
+        if auto_write:
             self.show()
     #pylint: enable=too-many-branches
 
diff --git a/adafruit_ht16k33/segments.py b/adafruit_ht16k33/segments.py
index 060f12f..1b2bb91 100755
--- a/adafruit_ht16k33/segments.py
+++ b/adafruit_ht16k33/segments.py
@@ -162,6 +162,16 @@ def print(self, value):
         if self._auto_write:
             self.show()
 
+    def print_hex(self, value):
+        """Print the value as a hexidecimal string to the display."""
+        if isinstance(value, int):
+            if 0 <= value <= 0xFFFF:
+                self.print('{0:X}'.format(value))
+            else:
+                raise ValueError('Value out of displayable range: {}'.format(value))
+        else:
+            self.print(value)
+
     def __setitem__(self, key, value):
         self._put(value, key)
         if self._auto_write:
diff --git a/examples/ht16k33_segments_simpletest.py b/examples/ht16k33_segments_simpletest.py
index 49e0747..a12d703 100644
--- a/examples/ht16k33_segments_simpletest.py
+++ b/examples/ht16k33_segments_simpletest.py
@@ -30,6 +30,10 @@
 display.print(42)
 time.sleep(2)
 
+# Or, can print a hexadecimal value
+display.print_hex(0xFF23)
+time.sleep(2)
+
 # Or, can set indivdual digits / characters
 # Set the first character to '1':
 display[0] = '1'