diff --git a/src/view.js b/src/view.js
index 506c36a3f4..1e63bf06f7 100644
--- a/src/view.js
+++ b/src/view.js
@@ -20,11 +20,14 @@ const ClassOptions = [
   'regionClass',
   'regions',
   'template',
+  'templateAsEl',
   'templateContext',
   'triggers',
   'ui'
 ];
 
+const TEMPLATE_AS_EL = 'TEMPLATE_AS_EL';
+
 // The standard view. Includes view events, automatic rendering
 // of Underscore templates, nested views, and more.
 const View = Backbone.View.extend({
@@ -36,6 +39,10 @@ const View = Backbone.View.extend({
 
     this.mergeOptions(options, ClassOptions);
 
+    if (this.templateAsEl) {
+      this.el = TEMPLATE_AS_EL;
+    }
+
     monitorViewEvents(this);
 
     this._initBehaviors();
@@ -86,7 +93,9 @@ const View = Backbone.View.extend({
   // Overriding Backbone.View's `setElement` to handle
   // if an el was previously defined. If so, the view might be
   // rendered or attached on setElement.
-  setElement() {
+  setElement(el) {
+    if (el === TEMPLATE_AS_EL) { return this; }
+
     const hasEl = !!this.el;
 
     Backbone.View.prototype.setElement.apply(this, arguments);
@@ -145,6 +154,12 @@ const View = Backbone.View.extend({
 
     // Render and add to el
     const html = Renderer.render(template, data, this);
+
+    if (this.templateAsEl) {
+      this.setElement(html);
+      return;
+    }
+
     this.attachElContent(html);
   },