diff --git a/etc/RT_Config.pm.in b/etc/RT_Config.pm.in
index e904873dbc3..856bf9c3a74 100755
--- a/etc/RT_Config.pm.in
+++ b/etc/RT_Config.pm.in
@@ -422,6 +422,22 @@ Set($OverrideOutgoingMailFrom, {
 
 =back
 
+=item C<$DefaultMailPrecedence>
+
+C<$DefaultMailPrecedence> is used to control the default
+Precedence level of outgoing mail where none is specified.
+By default it is C<bulk>, but if you only send mail to
+your staff, you may wish to change it.
+
+Note that you can set the precedence of individual templates
+by including an explicit Precedence header.
+
+=cut
+
+Set($DefaultMailPrecedence, 'bulk');
+
+=back
+
 =head1 Sendmail Configuration
 
 These options only take effect if C<$MailCommand> is 'sendmail' or
diff --git a/lib/RT/Action/SendEmail.pm b/lib/RT/Action/SendEmail.pm
index a09bd3e567d..5820a0cf3e8 100755
--- a/lib/RT/Action/SendEmail.pm
+++ b/lib/RT/Action/SendEmail.pm
@@ -607,7 +607,7 @@ sub SetRTSpecialHeaders {
         }
     }
 
-    $self->SetHeader( 'Precedence', "bulk" )
+    $self->SetHeader( 'Precedence', RT->Config->Get('DefaultMailPrecedence') )
         unless ( $self->TemplateObj->MIMEObj->head->get("Precedence") );
 
     $self->SetHeader( 'X-RT-Loop-Prevention', RT->Config->Get('rtname') );