diff --git a/beets/config_default.yaml b/beets/config_default.yaml
index adbe5d616..17e07edec 100644
--- a/beets/config_default.yaml
+++ b/beets/config_default.yaml
@@ -48,6 +48,12 @@ asciify_paths: false
 art_filename: cover
 max_filename_length: 0
 
+aunique:
+    keys: albumartist album
+    disambiguators: albumtype year label catalognum albumdisambig
+    bracket: '[]'
+
+
 plugins: []
 pluginpath: []
 threaded: yes
diff --git a/beets/library.py b/beets/library.py
index 919d4cf7c..be67065a0 100644
--- a/beets/library.py
+++ b/beets/library.py
@@ -1510,10 +1510,10 @@ class DefaultTemplateFunctions(object):
         if memoval is not None:
             return memoval
 
-        keys = keys or 'albumartist album'
-        disam = disam or 'albumtype year label catalognum albumdisambig'
+        keys = keys or beets.config['aunique']['keys'].as_str()
+        disam = disam or beets.config['aunique']['disambiguators'].as_str()
         if bracket is None:
-            bracket = '[]'
+            bracket = beets.config['aunique']['bracket'].as_str()
         keys = keys.split()
         disam = disam.split()
 
diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index 44b56f014..9b8ed5770 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@ New features:
   relevant releases according to the :ref:`preferred` configuration options.
   Thanks to :user:`archer4499`.
   :bug:`3017`
+* A new ``aunique`` configuration option allows setting default options
+  for the :ref:`aunique` template function.
 
 Fixes:
 
diff --git a/docs/reference/config.rst b/docs/reference/config.rst
index e7703f3a8..b0ce63d52 100644
--- a/docs/reference/config.rst
+++ b/docs/reference/config.rst
@@ -286,6 +286,23 @@ numbered from one, not zero, so other track numbers may appear to be bumped up
 by one. When it is on, the pregap track for each disc can be numbered zero.
 
 
+.. _config-aunique:
+
+anique
+~~~~~~
+
+These options are used to generate a string that is guaranteed to be unique
+among all albums in the library who share the same set of keys.
+
+The defaults look like this::
+
+    aunique:
+        keys: albumartist album
+        disambiguators: albumtype year label catalognum albumdisambig
+        bracket: '[]'
+
+See :ref:`aunique` for more details.
+
 .. _terminal_encoding:
 
 terminal_encoding