diff --git a/code/controllers/configuration.dm b/code/controllers/configuration.dm
index 7f12e097d8d..a8f766a82d4 100644
--- a/code/controllers/configuration.dm
+++ b/code/controllers/configuration.dm
@@ -184,6 +184,8 @@
 
 	var/starlight = 0	// Whether space turfs have ambient light or not
 
+	var/list/ert_species = list("Human")
+
 /datum/configuration/New()
 	var/list/L = typesof(/datum/game_mode) - /datum/game_mode
 	for (var/T in L)
@@ -609,6 +611,10 @@
 					value = text2num(value)
 					config.starlight = value >= 0 ? value : 0
 
+				if("ert_species")
+					config.ert_species = text2list(value, ";")
+					if(!config.ert_species.len)
+						config.ert_species += "Human"
 				else
 					log_misc("Unknown setting in configuration: '[name]'")
 
diff --git a/code/game/response_team.dm b/code/game/response_team.dm
index aca036c94a0..a9dd5983741 100644
--- a/code/game/response_team.dm
+++ b/code/game/response_team.dm
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ client/verb/JoinResponseTeam()
 				new_commando << "<b>As leader of the Emergency Response Team, you answer only to CentComm, and have authority to override the Captain where it is necessary to achieve your mission goals. It is recommended that you attempt to cooperate with the captain where possible, however."
 
 			// By setting an explicit location the mob cannot wander off and decide change appearance elsewhere
-			new_commando.change_appearance(APPEARANCE_ALL, new_commando.loc, new_commando, species_whitelist = list("Human", "Unathi", "Tajara"))
+			new_commando.change_appearance(APPEARANCE_ALL, new_commando.loc, new_commando, species_whitelist = config.ert_species)
 
 			return
 
diff --git a/config/example/config.txt b/config/example/config.txt
index e0a240cf799..c708ae4a49d 100644
--- a/config/example/config.txt
+++ b/config/example/config.txt
@@ -322,5 +322,9 @@ EVENT_CUSTOM_START_MAJOR 80;100
 ## Uncomment to disable respawning by default.
 #DISABLE_RESPAWN
 
-## Strength of ambient star light. Set to 0 or less to turn off.
+## Strength of ambient star light. Set to 0 or less to turn off. A value of 1 is unlikely to have a noticeable effect in most lightning systems.
 STARLIGHT 0
+
+## Defines which races are allowed to join as ERT, in singular form. If unset, defaults to only human. Casing matters, separate using ;
+## Example races include: Human, Tajara, Skrell, Unathi
+# ERT_SPECIES Human;Skrell;Unathi