diff --git a/data/default_config.cfg b/data/default_config.cfg
index cfe00206..b5d2a0e4 100644
--- a/data/default_config.cfg
+++ b/data/default_config.cfg
@@ -74,6 +74,29 @@ hide_exit_join = -1
 
 hide_status_change = 120
 
+# set to 'true' if you want to automatically rejoin the
+# room when you're kicked
+autorejoin = false
+
+# If you want poezio to join
+# the room with an alternative nickname when
+# your nickname is already in use in the room you
+# wanted to join, put a non-empty value.
+# Else, poezio won't join the room
+# This value will be added to your nickname to
+# create the alternative nickname.
+# For example, if you set "_", and wanted to use
+# the nickname "john", your alternative nickname
+# will be "john_"
+alternative_nickname = 
+
+# Limit the number of messages you want to receive when the
+# multiuserchat rooms send you recent history
+# 0: You won't receive any
+# -1: You will receive the maximum (default)
+# n: You will receive at most n messages
+muc_history_length = -1
+
 # set to 'true' if you want to save logs of all the messages
 # in files.
 use_log = false
diff --git a/src/gui.py b/src/gui.py
index a5521452..604ba591 100644
--- a/src/gui.py
+++ b/src/gui.py
@@ -372,7 +372,10 @@ class Gui(object):
         if code == '401':
             self.add_message_to_room(room, _('To provide a password in order to join the room, type "/join / password" (replace "password" by the real password)'))
         if code == '409':
-            self.add_message_to_room(room, _('You can join the room with specifying an other nick, by typing "/join /other_nick"'))
+            if config.get('alternative_nickname', '') != '':
+                self.command_join('%s/%s'% (room.name, room.own_nick+config.get('alternative_nickname', '')))
+            else:
+                self.add_message_to_room(room, _('You can join the room with specifying an other nick, by typing "/join /other_nick"'))
         self.refresh_window()
 
     def private_message(self, stanza):