diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 524b7b2..fd94c04 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ qbpm now reads configuration options from a `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/qbpm/config.toml`!
     - run `qbpm config default > "$(qbpm config path)"`
   - supported configuration options:
     - `config_py_template`: control the contents of `config.py` in new profiles
+    - `symlink_autoconfig`: symlink qutebrowser's `autoconfig.yml` in new profiles
     - `profile_directory` and `qutebrowser_config_directory`
       - equivalent `--profile-dir` to `--qutebrowser-config-dir` 
     - `generate_desktop_file` and `desktop_file_directory`
@@ -15,6 +16,7 @@ qbpm now reads configuration options from a `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/qbpm/config.toml`!
     - see default config file for more detailed documentation
 
 ## other
+  - support for symlinking `autoconfig.yml` in addition to or instead of sourcing `config.py`
   - `contrib/qbpm.desktop`: add `MimeType` and `Keywords`, fix incorrect formatting of `Categories`
   - allow help text to be slightly wider to avoid awkward line breaks
   - macOS: fix detection of qutebrowser binary in /Applications
diff --git a/src/qbpm/config.py b/src/qbpm/config.py
index d746c9c..274404f 100644
--- a/src/qbpm/config.py
+++ b/src/qbpm/config.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ DEFAULT_CONFIG_FILE = Path(__file__).parent / "config.toml"
 @dataclass(kw_only=True)
 class Config:
     config_py_template: str | None = None
+    symlink_autoconfig: bool = False
     qutebrowser_config_directory: Path | None = None
     profile_directory: Path = field(default_factory=paths.default_profile_dir)
     generate_desktop_file: bool = platform.system() == "Linux"
@@ -57,14 +58,21 @@ def find_config(config_path: Path | None) -> Config:
     return Config.load(config_path)
 
 
-def find_qutebrowser_config_dir(qb_config_dir: Path | None) -> Path | None:
+def find_qutebrowser_config_dir(
+    qb_config_dir: Path | None, autoconfig: bool = False
+) -> Path | None:
     dirs = (
         [qb_config_dir, qb_config_dir / "config"]
         if qb_config_dir
         else list(paths.qutebrowser_config_dirs())
     )
     for config_dir in dirs:
-        if (config_dir / "config.py").exists():
+        if (config_dir / "config.py").exists() or (
+            autoconfig and (config_dir / "autoconfig.yml").exists()
+        ):
             return config_dir.absolute()
-    error(f"couldn't find config.py in {or_phrase(dirs)}")
+    if autoconfig:
+        error(f"couldn't find config.py or autoconfig.yml in {or_phrase(dirs)}")
+    else:
+        error(f"couldn't find config.py in {or_phrase(dirs)}")
     return None
diff --git a/src/qbpm/config.toml b/src/qbpm/config.toml
index a6c6ea7..b0e3622 100644
--- a/src/qbpm/config.toml
+++ b/src/qbpm/config.toml
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@ c.window.title_format += ' ({profile_name})'
 config.load_autoconfig()
 """
 
+# symlink autoconfig.yml in new profiles if the os supports it
+# symlink_autoconfig = false
+
 # location to store qutebrowser profiles
 # profile_directory = "~/.local/share/qutebrowser-profiles"
 
diff --git a/src/qbpm/profiles.py b/src/qbpm/profiles.py
index c0c599f..c75fcef 100644
--- a/src/qbpm/profiles.py
+++ b/src/qbpm/profiles.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ from pathlib import Path
 from . import Profile
 from .config import Config, find_qutebrowser_config_dir
 from .desktop import create_desktop_file
-from .log import error
+from .log import error, info
 
 MIME_TYPES = [
     "text/html",
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ def create_profile(profile: Profile, overwrite: bool = False) -> bool:
 
     config_dir = profile.root / "config"
     config_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=overwrite)
-    print(profile.root)
     return True
 
 
@@ -42,13 +41,16 @@ def create_config(
     home_page: str | None = None,
     overwrite: bool = False,
 ) -> None:
+    source = qb_config_dir / "config.py"
+    if not source.is_file():
+        return
     user_config = profile.root / "config" / "config.py"
     with user_config.open(mode="w" if overwrite else "x") as dest_config:
         out = partial(print, file=dest_config)
         out(
             config_py_template.format(
                 profile_name=profile.name,
-                source_config_py=qb_config_dir / "config.py",
+                source_config_py=source,
             )
         )
         # TODO move to template?
@@ -56,6 +58,24 @@ def create_config(
             out(f"c.url.start_pages = ['{home_page}']")
 
 
+def link_autoconfig(
+    profile: Profile,
+    qb_config_dir: Path,
+    overwrite: bool = False,
+) -> None:
+    if not hasattr(Path, "symlink_to"):
+        return
+    source = qb_config_dir / "autoconfig.yml"
+    dest = profile.root / "config" / "autoconfig.yml"
+    if not source.is_file() or dest.resolve() == source.resolve():
+        return
+    if overwrite and dest.exists():
+        backup = Path(str(dest) + ".bak")
+        info(f"backing up existing autoconfig to {backup}")
+        dest.replace(backup)
+    dest.symlink_to(source)
+
+
 def check(profile: Profile) -> bool:
     if not profile.check_name():
         return False
@@ -82,7 +102,9 @@ def new_profile(
     if qb_config_dir and not qb_config_dir.is_dir():
         error(f"{qb_config_dir} is not a directory")
         return False
-    qb_config_dir = find_qutebrowser_config_dir(qb_config_dir)
+    qb_config_dir = find_qutebrowser_config_dir(
+        qb_config_dir, config.symlink_autoconfig
+    )
     if not qb_config_dir:
         return False
     if not config.config_py_template:
@@ -92,7 +114,10 @@ def new_profile(
         create_config(
             profile, qb_config_dir, config.config_py_template, home_page, overwrite
         )
+        if config.symlink_autoconfig:
+            link_autoconfig(profile, qb_config_dir, overwrite)
         if config.generate_desktop_file:
             create_desktop_file(profile, config.desktop_file_directory)
+        print(profile.root)
         return True
     return False
diff --git a/tests/test_config.py b/tests/test_config.py
index 0335c87..b64420d 100644
--- a/tests/test_config.py
+++ b/tests/test_config.py
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ def test_full_config(tmp_path: Path):
 config_py_template = \"""
 config.load_autoconfig()
 \"""
+symlink_autoconfig = true
 qutebrowser_config_directory = "~/.config/qutebrowser"
 profile_directory = "profile"
 generate_desktop_file = false
@@ -47,6 +48,7 @@ menu_prompt = "qbpm"
     """)
     assert find_config(file) == Config(
         config_py_template="config.load_autoconfig()\n",
+        symlink_autoconfig=True,
         qutebrowser_config_directory=Path("~/.config/qutebrowser").expanduser(),
         profile_directory=Path("profile"),
         desktop_file_directory=Path("desktop"),
@@ -65,6 +67,14 @@ def test_find_qb_config(tmp_path: Path):
     assert find_qutebrowser_config_dir(qb_dir / "config") == qb_conf_dir
 
 
+def test_find_autoconfig(tmp_path: Path):
+    qb_dir = tmp_path / "qb"
+    qb_conf_dir = qb_dir / "config"
+    qb_conf_dir.mkdir(parents=True)
+    (qb_conf_dir / "autoconfig.yml").touch()
+    assert find_qutebrowser_config_dir(qb_dir, autoconfig=True) == qb_conf_dir
+
+
 def test_find_qb_config_default(tmp_path: Path):
     (tmp_path / "config.py").touch()
     assert find_qutebrowser_config_dir(None) == tmp_path
diff --git a/tests/test_profiles.py b/tests/test_profiles.py
index 14c8a7f..3b7c3c9 100644
--- a/tests/test_profiles.py
+++ b/tests/test_profiles.py
@@ -54,14 +54,18 @@ def test_create_profile_nested_conflict(tmp_path: Path):
 
 
 def test_create_config(tmp_path: Path):
+    (tmp_path / "config.py").touch()
     profile = Profile("test", tmp_path)
     config_dir = profile.root / "config"
     config_dir.mkdir(parents=True)
-    profiles.create_config(profile, tmp_path, "")
-    assert list(config_dir.iterdir()) == [config_dir / "config.py"]
+    profiles.create_config(profile, tmp_path, "{source_config_py}")
+    config = config_dir / "config.py"
+    assert list(config_dir.iterdir()) == [config]
+    assert str(tmp_path / "config.py") in config.read_text()
 
 
 def test_overwrite_config(tmp_path: Path):
+    (tmp_path / "config.py").touch()
     profile = Profile("test", tmp_path)
     url = "http://example.com"
     config_dir = profile.root / "config"
@@ -76,6 +80,41 @@ def test_overwrite_config(tmp_path: Path):
     raise AssertionError()
 
 
+def test_link_autoconfig(tmp_path: Path):
+    profile = Profile("test", tmp_path)
+    config_dir = profile.root / "config"
+    config_dir.mkdir(parents=True)
+    (tmp_path / "autoconfig.yml").touch()
+    profiles.link_autoconfig(profile, tmp_path, False)
+    config = config_dir / "autoconfig.yml"
+    assert list(config_dir.iterdir()) == [config]
+    assert config.resolve().parent == tmp_path
+
+
+def test_autoconfig_present(tmp_path: Path):
+    profile = Profile("test", tmp_path)
+    config_dir = profile.root / "config"
+    config_dir.mkdir(parents=True)
+    (tmp_path / "autoconfig.yml").touch()
+    profiles.link_autoconfig(profile, tmp_path, False)
+    profiles.link_autoconfig(profile, tmp_path, False)
+    config = config_dir / "autoconfig.yml"
+    assert list(config_dir.iterdir()) == [config]
+    assert config.resolve().parent == tmp_path
+
+
+def test_overwrite_autoconfig(tmp_path: Path):
+    profile = Profile("test", tmp_path)
+    config_dir = profile.root / "config"
+    config_dir.mkdir(parents=True)
+    (config_dir / "autoconfig.yml").touch()
+    (tmp_path / "autoconfig.yml").touch()
+    profiles.link_autoconfig(profile, tmp_path, True)
+    config = config_dir / "autoconfig.yml"
+    assert set(config_dir.iterdir()) == {config, config_dir / "autoconfig.yml.bak"}
+    assert config.resolve().parent == tmp_path
+
+
 def test_new_profile(tmp_path: Path):
     (tmp_path / "config.py").touch()
     profile = Profile("test", tmp_path / "test")
@@ -86,16 +125,41 @@ def test_new_profile(tmp_path: Path):
     check_new_profile(profile)
 
 
+def test_new_profile_autoconfig(tmp_path: Path):
+    (tmp_path / "autoconfig.yml").touch()
+    profile = Profile("test", tmp_path / "test")
+    config = Config.load(None)
+    config.qutebrowser_config_directory = tmp_path
+    config.generate_desktop_file = False
+    config.symlink_autoconfig = True
+    profiles.new_profile(profile, config)
+    config_dir = profile.root / "config"
+    assert set(config_dir.iterdir()) == {config_dir / "autoconfig.yml"}
+
+
+def test_new_profile_both(tmp_path: Path):
+    (tmp_path / "config.py").touch()
+    (tmp_path / "autoconfig.yml").touch()
+    profile = Profile("test", tmp_path / "test")
+    config = Config.load(None)
+    config.qutebrowser_config_directory = tmp_path
+    config.generate_desktop_file = False
+    config.symlink_autoconfig = True
+    profiles.new_profile(profile, config)
+    assert len(set((profile.root / "config").iterdir())) == 2  # noqa: PLR2004
+
+
 def test_config_template(tmp_path: Path):
+    (tmp_path / "config.py").touch()
     profile = Profile("test", tmp_path)
+    config_dir = profile.root / "config"
+    config_dir.mkdir(parents=True)
     template = "# Profile: {profile_name}\nconfig.source('{source_config_py}')"
-
     profiles.create_profile(profile)
-    profiles.create_config(profile, tmp_path / "config", template)
-
+    profiles.create_config(profile, tmp_path, template)
     config_content = (profile.root / "config" / "config.py").read_text()
     assert "# Profile: test" in config_content
-    assert f"config.source('{tmp_path / 'config' / 'config.py'}')" in config_content
+    assert f"config.source('{tmp_path / 'config.py'}')" in config_content
 
 
 def test_missing_qb_config(tmp_path: Path):