diff --git a/README.txt b/README.txt
index 6a55e14..ae60774 100644
--- a/README.txt
+++ b/README.txt
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ to your Emacs load-path.
 
 In your ~/.emacs, you could have something like this:
 
+  ;; To customize the loaded contribs, set slime-contribs like so:
+  ;; (setq slime-contribs '(slime-fancy))
   (load (expand-file-name "~/quicklisp/slime-helper.el"))
   (setq inferior-lisp-program "sbcl")
 
diff --git a/slime-helper-template.el b/slime-helper-template.el
index e958a75..9570770 100644
--- a/slime-helper-template.el
+++ b/slime-helper-template.el
@@ -35,4 +35,6 @@
   (setq slime-backend (expand-file-name "swank-loader.lisp"
                                         quicklisp-slime-directory))
   (setq slime-path quicklisp-slime-directory)
-  (slime-setup '(slime-fancy)))
+  (if (boundp 'slime-contribs)
+      (slime-setup slime-contribs)
+    (slime-setup '(slime-fancy))))