diff --git a/von/puid.py b/von/puid.py
index 20170f0..d2c9116 100644
--- a/von/puid.py
+++ b/von/puid.py
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 import hashlib
 import re
 
+from rc import VON_CUSTOM_LOOKUP
+
 lookup = {
     "Afghanistan": "AFG",
     "Albania": "ALB",
@@ -207,6 +209,7 @@
 lookup["USAMTS"] = "USMT"
 lookup["USA GST"] = "USAEST"
 
+lookup.update(VON_CUSTOM_LOOKUP)
 # whooooo
 REGEX = r"(?P<contest>[a-zA-Z][a-zA-Z0-9 ]+)(19|20)(?P<year>[0-9][0-9])(?P<stem>[ \/](?P<locator>[0-9A-Za-z\.\/\- ]+))?$"
 re_generic = re.compile(REGEX)
diff --git a/von/rc.py b/von/rc.py
index f45dac9..4c3560b 100644
--- a/von/rc.py
+++ b/von/rc.py
@@ -49,7 +49,15 @@
 
 # Name of text editor to invoke
 # By default, it detects from $EDITOR automatically
-# editor: vim"""
+# editor: vim
+
+# If you would like to define a custom contest name (to be used in the PUID script),
+# then you should define it here.
+# This will also override any "standard" lookups in `puid.py`.
+# abbreviations:
+#   Inter Galaxy Math Olympiad: IGMO
+#   Inter Universe Math Olympiad: IUMO
+"""
 
 if not CONFIG_DIR.exists():
     try:
@@ -112,6 +120,8 @@
 else:
     USER_OS = "linux"  # including cygwin
 
+VON_CUSTOM_LOOKUP = config.get("abbreviations", {})
+
 # These used to be editable but I don't think it's worth it
 VON_INDEX_NAME = "index"
 VON_INDEX_PATH = os.path.join(VON_BASE_PATH, VON_INDEX_NAME)