diff --git a/.vscode/tasks.json b/.vscode/tasks.json
index e7b2b0c8..74ac810e 100644
--- a/.vscode/tasks.json
+++ b/.vscode/tasks.json
@@ -9,5 +9,10 @@
         "reveal": "never",
       },
     },
+    {
+      "type": "npm",
+      "label": "build",
+      "script": "build",
+    },
   ],
 }
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 767f84e4..2ef07046 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ This extension contributes the following settings:
 
 - `sourcegraph.url`: The Sourcegraph instance to use. Specify your on-premises Sourcegraph instance here, if applicable.
 - `sourcegraph.remoteUrlReplacements`: Object, where each `key` is replaced by `value` in the remote url.
+- `sourcegraph.defaultRemote`: An optional default remote to always use when opening Sourcegraph links.
 
 ## Questions & Feedback
 
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 7dc5993a..d838bf2d 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -63,6 +63,13 @@
           ],
           "default": {},
           "description": "For each item in this object, replace key with value in the remote url."
+        },
+        "sourcegraph.defaultRemote": {
+          "type": [
+            "string"
+          ],
+          "default": null,
+          "description": "The default git remote to use. If null, will use the first remote returned from `git remote`."
         }
       }
     }
diff --git a/src/config.ts b/src/config.ts
index 47e123be..8e13739c 100644
--- a/src/config.ts
+++ b/src/config.ts
@@ -18,3 +18,8 @@ export function getRemoteUrlReplacements(): Record<string, string> {
         .get<Record<string, string>>('remoteUrlReplacements')!
     return replacements
 }
+
+export function getDefaultRemote(): string | undefined {
+    // has default value
+    return vscode.workspace.getConfiguration('sourcegraph').get<string>('defaultRemote')
+}
diff --git a/src/git.ts b/src/git.ts
index 3118764c..5901b24d 100644
--- a/src/git.ts
+++ b/src/git.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import execa from 'execa'
 import * as path from 'path'
 import { log } from './log'
-import { getRemoteUrlReplacements } from './config'
+import { getDefaultRemote, getRemoteUrlReplacements } from './config'
 
 /**
  * Returns the names of all git remotes, e.g. ["origin", "foobar"]
@@ -32,14 +32,21 @@ async function gitRemoteURL(repoDir: string, remoteName: string): Promise<string
  * Returns the remote URL of the first Git remote found.
  */
 async function gitDefaultRemoteURL(repoDir: string): Promise<string> {
-    const remotes = await gitRemotes(repoDir)
-    if (remotes.length === 0) {
-        throw new Error('no configured git remotes')
-    }
-    if (remotes.length > 1) {
-        log.appendLine(`using first git remote: ${remotes[0]}`)
+    let remote = getDefaultRemote()
+
+    // if there is no default remote configured, retrieve remote to use via 'git remote' command
+    if (remote === undefined) {
+        const remotes = await gitRemotes(repoDir)
+        if (remotes.length === 0) {
+            throw new Error('no configured git remotes')
+        }
+        if (remotes.length > 1) {
+            log.appendLine(`using first git remote: ${remotes[0]}`)
+        }
+        remote = remotes[0]
     }
-    return await gitRemoteURL(repoDir, remotes[0])
+
+    return await gitRemoteURL(repoDir, remote)
 }
 
 /**