diff --git a/outlines/prompts.py b/outlines/prompts.py
index a7824451a..40c6a4012 100644
--- a/outlines/prompts.py
+++ b/outlines/prompts.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import dis
 import functools
 import inspect
 import json
@@ -42,6 +43,26 @@ def __str__(self):
         return self.template
 
 
+def _template_variable_assigned(fn: Callable) -> Optional[str]:
+    instruction_set = list(dis.Bytecode(fn))
+    if (
+        len(instruction_set) >= 3
+        and instruction_set[2].opname == "STORE_FAST"
+        and instruction_set[2].argrepr == "_"
+    ):
+        return instruction_set[1].argval
+    elif any(
+        instr
+        for instr in instruction_set
+        if instr.opname == "STORE_FAST" and instr.argrepr == "_"
+    ):
+        raise ValueError(
+            "Can only use simple string literals to `_` and it must be the only instruction in the function."
+        )
+    else:
+        return None
+
+
 def prompt(fn: Callable) -> Prompt:
     """Decorate a function that contains a prompt template.
 
@@ -79,17 +100,24 @@ def prompt(fn: Callable) -> Prompt:
 
     """
 
-    signature = inspect.signature(fn)
-
-    # The docstring contains the template that will be rendered to be used
-    # as a prompt to the language model.
-    docstring = fn.__doc__
-    if docstring is None:
-        raise TypeError("Could not find a template in the function's docstring.")
+    # Either the docstring or `_` variable contains the template
+    # that will be rendered to be used as a prompt to the language model.
+    potential_template = _template_variable_assigned(fn)
+    if potential_template is None:
+        docstring = fn.__doc__
+        if docstring is None:
+            raise TypeError(
+                "Could not find a template in the function's docstring or assigned to `_`"
+            )
+        else:
+            potential_template = docstring
 
-    template = cast(str, docstring)
+    template = cast(str, potential_template)
+    signature = inspect.signature(fn)
 
-    return Prompt(template, signature)
+    prompt_instance = Prompt(template, signature)
+    functools.update_wrapper(prompt_instance, fn)
+    return prompt_instance
 
 
 def render(template: str, **values: Optional[Dict[str, Any]]) -> str:
diff --git a/tests/test_prompts.py b/tests/test_prompts.py
index a0433c0e5..f46d5837e 100644
--- a/tests/test_prompts.py
+++ b/tests/test_prompts.py
@@ -148,6 +148,39 @@ def test_kwarg_tpl(var, other_var="other"):
     assert p == "test and test"
 
 
+def test_prompt_template_keyword():
+    import pydoc
+
+    @outlines.prompt
+    def test_tpl_keyword(variable):
+        _ = """{{variable}} test"""
+
+    assert test_tpl_keyword.template == "{{variable}} test"
+    assert test_tpl_keyword.parameters == ["variable"]
+
+    @outlines.prompt
+    def test_tpl_keyword_w_docstring(variable):
+        """custom docstring"""
+        _ = """{{variable}} test"""
+
+    assert "custom docstring" in pydoc.render_doc(test_tpl_keyword_w_docstring)
+
+    @outlines.prompt
+    def test_tpl_keyword_single_quotes(variable):
+        _ = "{{variable}} test"
+
+    assert test_tpl_keyword_single_quotes.template == "{{variable}} test"
+    assert test_tpl_keyword_single_quotes.parameters == ["variable"]
+
+
+def test_prompt_bad_template_keyword():
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="_"):
+
+        @outlines.prompt
+        def test_tpl_keyword(variable):
+            _ = f"{'test'}"
+
+
 def test_no_prompt():
     with pytest.raises(TypeError, match="template"):