diff --git a/_pytest/mark.py b/_pytest/mark.py
index 5ded0afe8..74473a9d7 100644
--- a/_pytest/mark.py
+++ b/_pytest/mark.py
@@ -335,6 +335,17 @@ class MarkDecorator:
     def __repr__(self):
         return "<MarkDecorator %r>" % (self.mark,)
 
+    def with_args(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        """ return a MarkDecorator with extra arguments added
+
+        unlike call this can be used even if the sole argument is a callable/class
+
+        :return: MarkDecorator
+        """
+
+        mark = Mark(self.name, args, kwargs)
+        return self.__class__(self.mark.combined_with(mark))
+
     def __call__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         """ if passed a single callable argument: decorate it with mark info.
             otherwise add *args/**kwargs in-place to mark information. """
@@ -348,9 +359,7 @@ class MarkDecorator:
                     store_legacy_markinfo(func, self.mark)
                     store_mark(func, self.mark)
                 return func
-
-        mark = Mark(self.name, args, kwargs)
-        return self.__class__(self.mark.combined_with(mark))
+        return self.with_args(*args, **kwargs)
 
 
 def get_unpacked_marks(obj):
diff --git a/changelog/2540.feature b/changelog/2540.feature
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d65b1ea56
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/2540.feature
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Introduce ``mark.with_args`` in order to allow passing functions/classes as sole argument to marks.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/testing/test_mark.py b/testing/test_mark.py
index f3966d733..cc46702a5 100644
--- a/testing/test_mark.py
+++ b/testing/test_mark.py
@@ -22,6 +22,19 @@ class TestMark(object):
         mark = Mark()
         pytest.raises((AttributeError, TypeError), mark)
 
+    def test_mark_with_param(self):
+        def some_function(abc):
+            pass
+
+        class SomeClass(object):
+            pass
+
+        assert pytest.mark.fun(some_function) is some_function
+        assert pytest.mark.fun.with_args(some_function) is not some_function
+
+        assert pytest.mark.fun(SomeClass) is SomeClass
+        assert pytest.mark.fun.with_args(SomeClass) is not SomeClass
+
     def test_pytest_mark_name_starts_with_underscore(self):
         mark = Mark()
         pytest.raises(AttributeError, getattr, mark, '_some_name')