diff --git a/libs/ardour/ardour/rc_configuration_vars.h b/libs/ardour/ardour/rc_configuration_vars.h
index 254e6272ef..7c13306adc 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/ardour/rc_configuration_vars.h
+++ b/libs/ardour/ardour/rc_configuration_vars.h
@@ -233,6 +233,7 @@ CONFIG_VARIABLE (bool, use_plugin_own_gui, "use-plugin-own-gui", true)
 CONFIG_VARIABLE (bool, use_windows_vst, "use-windows-vst", true)
 CONFIG_VARIABLE (bool, use_lxvst, "use-lxvst", true)
 CONFIG_VARIABLE (bool, use_macvst, "use-macvst", true)
+CONFIG_VARIABLE (bool, use_audio_units, "use-audio-units", true)
 CONFIG_VARIABLE (bool, discover_vst_on_start, "discover-vst-on-start", false)
 CONFIG_VARIABLE (bool, verbose_plugin_scan, "verbose-plugin-scan", false)
 CONFIG_VARIABLE (bool, conceal_lv1_if_lv2_exists, "conceal-lv1-if-lv2-exists", true)
diff --git a/libs/ardour/plugin_manager.cc b/libs/ardour/plugin_manager.cc
index d3d98dd28b..24eebaf777 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/plugin_manager.cc
+++ b/libs/ardour/plugin_manager.cc
@@ -1374,13 +1374,13 @@ PluginManager::au_refresh (bool cache_only)
 	delete _au_plugin_info;
 	_au_plugin_info = new ARDOUR::PluginInfoList();
 
-	if (!Config->get_discover_audio_units ()) { // TODO rename: enable AU
+	if (!Config->get_use_audio_units ()) {
 		return;
 	}
 
 	ARDOUR::PluginScanMessage(_("AUv2"), _("Indexing"), false);
 	/* disable AU in case indexing crashes */
-	Config->set_discover_audio_units (false);
+	Config->set_use_audio_units (false);
 	Config->save_state();
 
 	string aucrsh = Glib::build_filename (ARDOUR::user_cache_directory(), "au_crash");
@@ -1390,7 +1390,7 @@ PluginManager::au_refresh (bool cache_only)
 	auv2_list_plugins (audesc);
 
 	/* successful, re-enabled AU support */
-	Config->set_discover_audio_units (true);
+	Config->set_use_audio_units (true);
 	Config->save_state();
 
 	::g_unlink (aucrsh.c_str());