diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index d0ae2981c..cdc0cd8ae 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/).
 ## [unreleased]
 
 ### Changed
+- **Breaking:** The default descriptions on uploads are now empty. The old behavior (filename as default) can be configured, see the cheat sheet.
 - **Breaking:** Added the ObjectAgePolicy to the default set of MRFs. This will delist and strip the follower collection of any message received that is older than 7 days. This will stop users from seeing very old messages in the timelines. The messages can still be viewed on the user's page and in conversations. They also still trigger notifications.
 - **Breaking:** Elixir >=1.9 is now required (was >= 1.8)
 - **Breaking:** Configuration: `:auto_linker, :opts` moved to `:pleroma, Pleroma.Formatter`. Old config namespace is deprecated.
diff --git a/config/config.exs b/config/config.exs
index a7c9e54b1..1ed3157c3 100644
--- a/config/config.exs
+++ b/config/config.exs
@@ -72,7 +72,8 @@
       pool: :upload
     ]
   ],
-  filename_display_max_length: 30
+  filename_display_max_length: 30,
+  default_description: nil
 
 config :pleroma, Pleroma.Uploaders.Local, uploads: "uploads"
 
diff --git a/config/test.exs b/config/test.exs
index 413c7f0b9..f0358e384 100644
--- a/config/test.exs
+++ b/config/test.exs
@@ -21,7 +21,10 @@
 
 config :pleroma, :auth, oauth_consumer_strategies: []
 
-config :pleroma, Pleroma.Upload, filters: [], link_name: false
+config :pleroma, Pleroma.Upload,
+  filters: [],
+  link_name: false,
+  default_description: :filename
 
 config :pleroma, Pleroma.Uploaders.Local, uploads: "test/uploads"
 
diff --git a/docs/configuration/cheatsheet.md b/docs/configuration/cheatsheet.md
index e68b6c6dc..4758fca66 100644
--- a/docs/configuration/cheatsheet.md
+++ b/docs/configuration/cheatsheet.md
@@ -552,6 +552,7 @@ the source code is here: [kocaptcha](https://github.com/koto-bank/kocaptcha). Th
 * `proxy_remote`: If you're using a remote uploader, Pleroma will proxy media requests instead of redirecting to it.
 * `proxy_opts`: Proxy options, see `Pleroma.ReverseProxy` documentation.
 * `filename_display_max_length`: Set max length of a filename to display. 0 = no limit. Default: 30.
+* `default_description`: Sets which default description an image has if none is set explicitly. Options: nil (default) - Don't set a default, :filename - use the filename of the file, a string (e.g. "attachment") - Use this string
 
 !!! warning
     `strip_exif` has been replaced by `Pleroma.Upload.Filter.Mogrify`.
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/upload.ex b/lib/pleroma/upload.ex
index 0fa6b89dc..015c87593 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/upload.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/upload.ex
@@ -56,6 +56,15 @@ defmodule Pleroma.Upload do
         }
   defstruct [:id, :name, :tempfile, :content_type, :path]
 
+  defp get_description(opts, upload) do
+    case {opts[:description], Pleroma.Config.get([Pleroma.Upload, :default_description])} do
+      {description, _} when is_binary(description) -> description
+      {_, :filename} -> upload.name
+      {_, str} when is_binary(str) -> str
+      _ -> ""
+    end
+  end
+
   @spec store(source, options :: [option()]) :: {:ok, Map.t()} | {:error, any()}
   def store(upload, opts \\ []) do
     opts = get_opts(opts)
@@ -63,7 +72,7 @@ def store(upload, opts \\ []) do
     with {:ok, upload} <- prepare_upload(upload, opts),
          upload = %__MODULE__{upload | path: upload.path || "#{upload.id}/#{upload.name}"},
          {:ok, upload} <- Pleroma.Upload.Filter.filter(opts.filters, upload),
-         description = Map.get(opts, :description) || upload.name,
+         description = get_description(opts, upload),
          {_, true} <-
            {:description_limit,
             String.length(description) <= Pleroma.Config.get([:instance, :description_limit])},
diff --git a/test/web/activity_pub/activity_pub_test.exs b/test/web/activity_pub/activity_pub_test.exs
index d6eab7337..03f968aaf 100644
--- a/test/web/activity_pub/activity_pub_test.exs
+++ b/test/web/activity_pub/activity_pub_test.exs
@@ -990,13 +990,39 @@ test "returns reblogs for users for whom reblogs have not been muted" do
   end
 
   describe "uploading files" do
-    test "copies the file to the configured folder" do
-      file = %Plug.Upload{
+    setup do
+      test_file = %Plug.Upload{
         content_type: "image/jpg",
         path: Path.absname("test/fixtures/image.jpg"),
         filename: "an_image.jpg"
       }
 
+      %{test_file: test_file}
+    end
+
+    test "sets a description if given", %{test_file: file} do
+      {:ok, %Object{} = object} = ActivityPub.upload(file, description: "a cool file")
+      assert object.data["name"] == "a cool file"
+    end
+
+    test "it sets the default description depending on the configuration", %{test_file: file} do
+      clear_config([Pleroma.Upload, :default_description])
+
+      Pleroma.Config.put([Pleroma.Upload, :default_description], nil)
+      {:ok, %Object{} = object} = ActivityPub.upload(file)
+      assert object.data["name"] == ""
+
+      Pleroma.Config.put([Pleroma.Upload, :default_description], :filename)
+      {:ok, %Object{} = object} = ActivityPub.upload(file)
+      assert object.data["name"] == "an_image.jpg"
+
+      Pleroma.Config.put([Pleroma.Upload, :default_description], "unnamed attachment")
+      {:ok, %Object{} = object} = ActivityPub.upload(file)
+      assert object.data["name"] == "unnamed attachment"
+    end
+
+    test "copies the file to the configured folder", %{test_file: file} do
+      clear_config([Pleroma.Upload, :default_description], :filename)
       {:ok, %Object{} = object} = ActivityPub.upload(file)
       assert object.data["name"] == "an_image.jpg"
     end