Stefan's answer leads the way. But you should **absolutely not** globally advise `line-number-at-pos`. The consequences of advising `line-number-at-pos` are unforeseeable! When you are hit by the consequences you will not remember that they are due to the advice. Furthermore, the consequences can be indirect because narrowing, point, and `line-number-at-pos` do all also work without any direct effect in the user interface. For an instance it might be that some version control package does not work anymore reliable or stuff like that. A local advice for each of the line-numbering packages is much better. 1st) Determine what function of the package in question calls `line-number-at-pos`. If there is an option for the `ABSOLUTE` argument of `line-number-at-pos` in that function you are almost certainly done. Just use that option. 2nd) If there is no option for the `ABSOLUTE` argument of `line-number-at-pos` use the advice `with-absolute-line-numbers` as defined in the following Elisp snippet. The usage of `with-absolute-line-numbers` is demonstrated for `linum-mode` in the snippet. <!-- language: lang-el --> (defun with-absolute-line-numbers (fun &rest args) "Let `line-number-at-pos' always output absolute line numbers." (cl-letf* ((old-line-number-at-pos (symbol-function 'line-number-at-pos)) ((symbol-function 'line-number-at-pos) (lambda (&optional pos absolute) (funcall old-line-number-at-pos pos t)))) (apply fun args) )) (advice-add 'linum-update-window :around #'with-absolute-line-numbers)