diff --git a/core/util.inc.php b/core/util.inc.php
index d0a23557..9005f71c 100644
--- a/core/util.inc.php
+++ b/core/util.inc.php
@@ -105,7 +105,8 @@ function autodate($date) {
 		if ($diff<7)  return $diff . " day" . plural($diff) . " ago";    $diff = round($diff/7);
 		if ($diff<4)  return $diff . " week" . plural($diff) . " ago";
 	}
-	return "on " . date("F j, Y", strtotime($date));
+	$format = $config->get_string('autodate_format', "F j, Y");
+	return "on " . date($format, strtotime($date));
 }
 
 
diff --git a/ext/setup/main.php b/ext/setup/main.php
index 1f3617c0..6672f9ae 100644
--- a/ext/setup/main.php
+++ b/ext/setup/main.php
@@ -164,6 +164,7 @@ class Setup extends SimpleExtension {
 		$config->set_default_string("base_href", "./index.php?q=");
 		$config->set_default_string("theme", "default");
 		$config->set_default_bool("use_autodate", true);
+		$config->set_default_bool("use_autodate", "F j, Y");
 	}
 
 	public function onPageRequest($event) {