diff --git a/core/lib/src/fairing/fairings.rs b/core/lib/src/fairing/fairings.rs
index 2796c1ba..afbbfc57 100644
--- a/core/lib/src/fairing/fairings.rs
+++ b/core/lib/src/fairing/fairings.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+use std::collections::HashSet;
+
 use crate::{Rocket, Request, Response, Data, Build, Orbit};
 use crate::fairing::{Fairing, Info, Kind};
 use crate::log::PaintExt;
@@ -6,12 +8,14 @@ use yansi::Paint;
 
 #[derive(Default)]
 pub struct Fairings {
+    // NOTE: This is a push-only vector due to the index-vectors below!
     all_fairings: Vec<Box<dyn Fairing>>,
+    // Ignite fairings that have failed.
     failures: Vec<Info>,
-    // Index into `attach` of last run attach fairing.
-    last_launch: usize,
+    // The number of ignite fairings from `self.ignite` we've run.
+    num_ignited: usize,
     // The vectors below hold indices into `all_fairings`.
-    launch: Vec<usize>,
+    ignite: Vec<usize>,
     liftoff: Vec<usize>,
     request: Vec<usize>,
     response: Vec<usize>,
@@ -19,8 +23,15 @@ pub struct Fairings {
 
 macro_rules! iter {
     ($_self:ident . $kind:ident) => ({
+        iter!($_self, $_self.$kind.iter()).map(|v| v.1)
+    });
+    ($_self:ident, $indices:expr) => ({
         let all_fairings = &$_self.all_fairings;
-        $_self.$kind.iter().filter_map(move |i| all_fairings.get(*i).map(|f| &**f))
+        $indices.filter_map(move |i| {
+            debug_assert!(all_fairings.get(*i).is_some());
+            let f = all_fairings.get(*i).map(|f| &**f)?;
+            Some((*i, f))
+        })
     })
 }
 
@@ -30,17 +41,64 @@ impl Fairings {
         Fairings::default()
     }
 
-    pub fn add(&mut self, fairing: Box<dyn Fairing>) -> &dyn Fairing {
-        let kind = fairing.info().kind;
+    pub fn active(&self) -> impl Iterator<Item = &usize> {
+        self.ignite.iter()
+            .chain(self.liftoff.iter())
+            .chain(self.request.iter())
+            .chain(self.response.iter())
+    }
+
+    pub fn add(&mut self, fairing: Box<dyn Fairing>) {
+        let this = &fairing;
+        let this_info = this.info();
+        if this_info.kind.is(Kind::Singleton) {
+            // If we already ran a duplicate on ignite, then fail immediately.
+            // There is no way to uphold the "only run last singleton" promise.
+            //
+            // How can this happen? Like this:
+            //   1. Attach A (singleton).
+            //   2. Attach B (any fairing).
+            //   3. Ignite.
+            //   4. A executes on_ignite.
+            //   5. B executes on_ignite, attaches another A.
+            //   6. --- (A would run if not for this code)
+            let ignite_dup = iter!(self.ignite).position(|f| f.type_id() == this.type_id());
+            if let Some(dup_ignite_index) = ignite_dup {
+                if dup_ignite_index < self.num_ignited {
+                    self.failures.push(this_info);
+                    return;
+                }
+            }
+
+            // Finds `k` in `from` and removes it if it's there.
+            let remove = |k: usize, from: &mut Vec<usize>| {
+                if let Ok(j) = from.binary_search(&k) {
+                    from.remove(j);
+                }
+            };
+
+            // Collect all of the active duplicates.
+            let mut dups: Vec<usize> = iter!(self, self.active())
+                .filter(|(_, f)| f.type_id() == this.type_id())
+                .map(|(i, _)| i)
+                .collect();
+
+            // Reverse the dup indices so `remove` is stable given shifts.
+            dups.sort(); dups.dedup(); dups.reverse();
+            for i in dups {
+                remove(i, &mut self.ignite);
+                remove(i, &mut self.liftoff);
+                remove(i, &mut self.request);
+                remove(i, &mut self.response);
+            }
+        }
+
         let index = self.all_fairings.len();
         self.all_fairings.push(fairing);
-
-        if kind.is(Kind::Ignite) { self.launch.push(index); }
-        if kind.is(Kind::Liftoff) { self.liftoff.push(index); }
-        if kind.is(Kind::Request) { self.request.push(index); }
-        if kind.is(Kind::Response) { self.response.push(index); }
-
-        &*self.all_fairings[index]
+        if this_info.kind.is(Kind::Ignite) { self.ignite.push(index); }
+        if this_info.kind.is(Kind::Liftoff) { self.liftoff.push(index); }
+        if this_info.kind.is(Kind::Request) { self.request.push(index); }
+        if this_info.kind.is(Kind::Response) { self.response.push(index); }
     }
 
     pub fn append(&mut self, others: &mut Fairings) {
@@ -50,10 +108,10 @@ impl Fairings {
     }
 
     pub async fn handle_ignite(mut rocket: Rocket<Build>) -> Rocket<Build> {
-        while rocket.fairings.last_launch < rocket.fairings.launch.len() {
+        while rocket.fairings.num_ignited < rocket.fairings.ignite.len() {
             // We're going to move `rocket` while borrowing `fairings`...
             let mut fairings = std::mem::replace(&mut rocket.fairings, Fairings::new());
-            for fairing in iter!(fairings.launch).skip(fairings.last_launch) {
+            for fairing in iter!(fairings.ignite).skip(fairings.num_ignited) {
                 let info = fairing.info();
                 rocket = match fairing.on_ignite(rocket).await {
                     Ok(rocket) => rocket,
@@ -63,10 +121,10 @@ impl Fairings {
                     }
                 };
 
-                fairings.last_launch += 1;
+                fairings.num_ignited += 1;
             }
 
-            // Note that `rocket.fairings` may now be non-empty since launch
+            // Note that `rocket.fairings` may now be non-empty since ignite
             // fairings could have added more fairings! Move them to the end.
             fairings.append(&mut rocket.fairings);
             rocket.fairings = fairings;
@@ -89,9 +147,9 @@ impl Fairings {
     }
 
     #[inline(always)]
-    pub async fn handle_response<'r>(&self, request: &'r Request<'_>, response: &mut Response<'r>) {
+    pub async fn handle_response<'r>(&self, req: &'r Request<'_>, res: &mut Response<'r>) {
         for fairing in iter!(self.response) {
-            fairing.on_response(request, response).await;
+            fairing.on_response(req, res).await;
         }
     }
 
@@ -103,13 +161,14 @@ impl Fairings {
     }
 
     pub fn pretty_print(&self) {
-        if !self.all_fairings.is_empty() {
+        let active_fairings = self.active().collect::<HashSet<_>>();
+        if !active_fairings.is_empty() {
             launch_info!("{}{}:", Paint::emoji("📡 "), Paint::magenta("Fairings"));
-        }
 
-        for fairing in &self.all_fairings {
-            launch_info_!("{} ({})", Paint::default(fairing.info().name).bold(),
+            for (_, fairing) in iter!(self, active_fairings.into_iter()) {
+                launch_info_!("{} ({})", Paint::default(fairing.info().name).bold(),
                 Paint::blue(fairing.info().kind).bold());
+            }
         }
     }
 }
@@ -121,7 +180,7 @@ impl std::fmt::Debug for Fairings {
         }
 
         f.debug_struct("Fairings")
-            .field("launch", &debug_info(iter!(self.launch)))
+            .field("launch", &debug_info(iter!(self.ignite)))
             .field("liftoff", &debug_info(iter!(self.liftoff)))
             .field("request", &debug_info(iter!(self.request)))
             .field("response", &debug_info(iter!(self.response)))
diff --git a/core/lib/src/fairing/info_kind.rs b/core/lib/src/fairing/info_kind.rs
index 67affc02..adaa129e 100644
--- a/core/lib/src/fairing/info_kind.rs
+++ b/core/lib/src/fairing/info_kind.rs
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ pub struct Info {
     /// The name of the fairing.
     pub name: &'static str,
     /// A set representing the callbacks the fairing wishes to receive.
-    pub kind: Kind
+    pub kind: Kind,
 }
 
 /// A bitset representing the kinds of callbacks a
@@ -45,6 +45,10 @@ pub struct Info {
 /// instance, to represent a fairing that is both an ignite and request fairing,
 /// use `Kind::Ignite | Kind::Request`. Similarly, to represent a fairing that
 /// is only an ignite fairing, use `Kind::Ignite`.
+///
+/// Additionally, a fairing can request to be treated as a
+/// [singleton](crate::fairing::Fairing#singletons) by specifying the
+/// `Singleton` kind.
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy)]
 pub struct Kind(usize);
 
@@ -62,6 +66,10 @@ impl Kind {
     /// `Kind` flag representing a request for a 'response' callback.
     pub const Response: Kind = Kind(1 << 3);
 
+    /// `Kind` flag representing a
+    /// [singleton](crate::fairing::Fairing#singletons) fairing.
+    pub const Singleton: Kind = Kind(1 << 4);
+
     /// Returns `true` if `self` is a superset of `other`. In other words,
     /// returns `true` if all of the kinds in `other` are also in `self`.
     ///
@@ -132,6 +140,7 @@ impl std::fmt::Display for Kind {
         write("ignite", Kind::Ignite)?;
         write("liftoff", Kind::Liftoff)?;
         write("request", Kind::Request)?;
-        write("response", Kind::Response)
+        write("response", Kind::Response)?;
+        write("singleton", Kind::Singleton)
     }
 }
diff --git a/core/lib/src/fairing/mod.rs b/core/lib/src/fairing/mod.rs
index 18e427cf..e73d5ce2 100644
--- a/core/lib/src/fairing/mod.rs
+++ b/core/lib/src/fairing/mod.rs
@@ -38,15 +38,19 @@
 //! ## Ordering
 //!
 //! `Fairing`s are executed in the order in which they are attached: the first
-//! attached fairing has its callbacks executed before all others. Because
-//! fairing callbacks may not be commutative, the order in which fairings are
-//! attached may be significant. Because of this, it is important to communicate
-//! to the user every consequence of a fairing.
+//! attached fairing has its callbacks executed before all others. A fairing can
+//! be attached any number of times. Except for [singleton
+//! fairings](Fairing#singletons), all attached instances are polled at runtime.
+//! Fairing callbacks may not be commutative; the order in which fairings are
+//! attached may be significant. It is thus important to communicate specific
+//! fairing functionality clearly.
 //!
 //! Furthermore, a `Fairing` should take care to act locally so that the actions
 //! of other `Fairings` are not jeopardized. For instance, unless it is made
 //! abundantly clear, a fairing should not rewrite every request.
 
+use std::any::Any;
+
 use crate::{Rocket, Request, Response, Data, Build, Orbit};
 
 mod fairings;
@@ -99,8 +103,8 @@ pub type Result<T = Rocket<Build>, E = Rocket<Build>> = std::result::Result<T, E
 ///
 /// There are four kinds of fairing callbacks: launch, liftoff, request, and
 /// response. A fairing can request any combination of these callbacks through
-/// the `kind` field of the `Info` structure returned from the `info` method.
-/// Rocket will only invoke the callbacks set in the `kind` field.
+/// the `kind` field of the [`Info`] structure returned from the `info` method.
+/// Rocket will only invoke the callbacks identified in the fairing's [`Kind`].
 ///
 /// The four callback kinds are as follows:
 ///
@@ -158,6 +162,16 @@ pub type Result<T = Rocket<Build>, E = Rocket<Build>> = std::result::Result<T, E
 ///     request. Additionally, Rocket will automatically strip the body for
 ///     `HEAD` requests _after_ response fairings have run.
 ///
+/// # Singletons
+///
+/// In general, any number of instances of a given fairing type can be attached
+/// to one instance of `Rocket`. If this is not desired, a fairing can request
+/// to be a singleton by specifying [`Kind::Singleton`]. Only the _last_
+/// attached instance of a singleton will be preserved at ignite-time. That is,
+/// an attached singleton instance will replace any previously attached
+/// instance. The [`Shield`](crate::shield::Shield) fairing is an example of a
+/// singleton fairing.
+///
 /// # Implementing
 ///
 /// A `Fairing` implementation has one required method: [`info`]. A `Fairing`
@@ -373,7 +387,7 @@ pub type Result<T = Rocket<Build>, E = Rocket<Build>> = std::result::Result<T, E
 ///
 /// [request-local state]: https://rocket.rs/master/guide/state/#request-local-state
 #[crate::async_trait]
-pub trait Fairing: Send + Sync + 'static {
+pub trait Fairing: Send + Sync + Any + 'static {
     /// Returns an [`Info`] structure containing the `name` and [`Kind`] of this
     /// fairing. The `name` can be any arbitrary string. `Kind` must be an `or`d
     /// set of `Kind` variants.
diff --git a/core/lib/tests/recursive-singleton-fairing.rs b/core/lib/tests/recursive-singleton-fairing.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f57759b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/lib/tests/recursive-singleton-fairing.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+use rocket::{Rocket, Build, Config};
+use rocket::fairing::{self, Fairing, Info, Kind};
+use rocket::error::ErrorKind;
+
+struct Singleton(Kind, Kind, bool);
+
+#[rocket::async_trait]
+impl Fairing for Singleton {
+    fn info(&self) -> Info {
+        Info {
+            name: "Singleton",
+            kind: self.0
+        }
+    }
+
+    async fn on_ignite(&self, rocket: Rocket<Build>) -> fairing::Result {
+        if self.2 {
+            Ok(rocket.attach(Singleton(self.1, self.1, false)))
+        } else {
+            Ok(rocket)
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+
+// Have => two `Singleton`s. This is okay; we keep the latter.
+#[rocket::async_test]
+async fn recursive_singleton_ok() {
+    let result = rocket::custom(Config::debug_default())
+        .attach(Singleton(Kind::Ignite | Kind::Singleton, Kind::Singleton, false))
+        .attach(Singleton(Kind::Ignite | Kind::Singleton, Kind::Singleton, false))
+        .ignite()
+        .await;
+
+    assert!(result.is_ok(), "{:?}", result);
+
+    let result = rocket::custom(Config::debug_default())
+        .attach(Singleton(Kind::Ignite | Kind::Singleton, Kind::Singleton, false))
+        .attach(Singleton(Kind::Ignite | Kind::Singleton, Kind::Singleton, false))
+        .attach(Singleton(Kind::Ignite | Kind::Singleton, Kind::Singleton, false))
+        .attach(Singleton(Kind::Ignite | Kind::Singleton, Kind::Singleton, false))
+        .ignite()
+        .await;
+
+    assert!(result.is_ok(), "{:?}", result);
+}
+
+// Have a `Singleton` add itself `on_ignite()`. Since it already ran, the one it
+// adds can't be unique, so ensure we error in this case.
+#[rocket::async_test]
+async fn recursive_singleton_bad() {
+    #[track_caller]
+    fn assert_err(error: rocket::Error) {
+        if let ErrorKind::FailedFairings(v) = error.kind() {
+            assert_eq!(v.len(), 1);
+            assert_eq!(v[0].name, "Singleton");
+        } else {
+            panic!("unexpected error: {:?}", error);
+        }
+    }
+
+    let result = rocket::custom(Config::debug_default())
+        .attach(Singleton(Kind::Ignite | Kind::Singleton, Kind::Ignite | Kind::Singleton, true))
+        .ignite()
+        .await;
+
+    assert_err(result.unwrap_err());
+
+    let result = rocket::custom(Config::debug_default())
+        .attach(Singleton(Kind::Ignite | Kind::Singleton, Kind::Singleton, true))
+        .ignite()
+        .await;
+
+    assert_err(result.unwrap_err());
+
+    let result = rocket::custom(Config::debug_default())
+        .attach(Singleton(Kind::Ignite, Kind::Singleton, true))
+        .ignite()
+        .await;
+
+    assert_err(result.unwrap_err());
+}
diff --git a/site/guide/7-fairings.md b/site/guide/7-fairings.md
index 4704bdf9..55e6dbd5 100644
--- a/site/guide/7-fairings.md
+++ b/site/guide/7-fairings.md
@@ -54,21 +54,22 @@ example, the following snippet attached two fairings, `req_fairing` and
 fn rocket() -> _ {
     # let req_fairing = rocket::fairing::AdHoc::on_request("example", |_, _| Box::pin(async {}));
     # let res_fairing = rocket::fairing::AdHoc::on_response("example", |_, _| Box::pin(async {}));
-
     rocket::build()
         .attach(req_fairing)
         .attach(res_fairing)
 }
 ```
 
+Fairings are executed in the order in which they are attached: the first
+attached fairing has its callbacks executed before all others. A fairing can be
+attached any number of times. Except for [singleton fairings], all attached
+instances are polled at runtime. Fairing callbacks may not be commutative; the
+order in which fairings are attached may be significant.
+
+[singleton fairings]: @api/rocket/fairing/trait.Fairing.html#singletons
 [`attach`]: @api/rocket/struct.Rocket.html#method.attach
 [`Rocket`]: @api/rocket/struct.Rocket.html
 
-Fairings are executed in the order in which they are attached: the first
-attached fairing has its callbacks executed before all others. Because fairing
-callbacks may not be commutative, the order in which fairings are attached may
-be significant.
-
 ### Callbacks
 
 There are four events for which Rocket issues fairing callbacks. Each of these