Alkali-activated　aluminosilicate　cements,　as　a　sustainable　and　high-performance　class　of　cementitious　materials,　can　benefit　from　the　development　of　admixtures　that　can　enhance　various　aspects　of　their　performance.　Alkali　activation　generally　occurs　at　a　faster　pace　than　the　hydration　of　Portland　cement　(PC).　In　this　investigation,　citric　acid　was　evaluated　as　an　admixture　for　controlling　the　hydration　kinetics,　enhancing　the　fresh-mix　rheology　and　delaying　the　setting　of　alkali　aluminosilicate　cement　(AAC)　without　compromising　its　long-term　strength.　The　obtained　experimental　results　showed　that　the　use　of　3　wt%　citric　acid　reduced　the　heat　of　hydration,　improved　the　fresh-mix　rheology　and　increased　the　hardened　material　compressive　strength　of　the　AAC.　The　results　demonstrate　the　merits　of　using　citric　acid　as　an　effective　admixture　in　alkali-activated　cement　to　make　it　more　compatible　with　the　construction　practices　established　for　PC.　©　2017　ICE　Publishing:　All　rights　reserved.