diff --git a/markupwiki/forms.py b/markupwiki/forms.py
index 790c57a..8918264 100644
--- a/markupwiki/forms.py
+++ b/markupwiki/forms.py
@@ -1,10 +1,15 @@
+from django.conf import settings
 from django import forms
 from markupwiki.models import Article, ArticleVersion
 
+MARKUP_TYPE_EDITABLE = getattr(settings, 'MARKUPWIKI_MARKUP_TYPE_EDITABLE', False)
+
 class ArticleForm(forms.ModelForm):
     class Meta:
         model = ArticleVersion
-        fields = ['body', 'body_markup_type']
+        fields = ['body']
+        if MARKUP_TYPE_EDITABLE:
+            fields.append('body_markup_type')
 
 class StaffModerationForm(forms.ModelForm):
     class Meta:
diff --git a/markupwiki/models.py b/markupwiki/models.py
index 762761e..a188387 100644
--- a/markupwiki/models.py
+++ b/markupwiki/models.py
@@ -1,8 +1,11 @@
 from django.db import models
+from django.conf import settings
 from django.contrib.auth.models import User
 from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
 from markupfield.fields import MarkupField
 
+DEFAULT_MARKUP_TYPE = getattr(settings, 'MARKUPWIKI_DEFAULT_MARKUP_TYPE', 'plain')
+
 PUBLIC, LOCKED, DELETED = range(3)
 ARTICLE_STATUSES = (
     (PUBLIC, 'Public'),     # public - no restrictions on viewing/editing
@@ -43,7 +46,7 @@ class ArticleVersion(models.Model):
     number = models.PositiveIntegerField()
     timestamp = models.DateTimeField(auto_now_add=True)
     removed = models.BooleanField(default=False)
-    body = MarkupField()
+    body = MarkupField(default_markup_type=DEFAULT_MARKUP_TYPE)
 
     class Meta:
         ordering = ['timestamp']