diff --git a/autoapi/extension.py b/autoapi/extension.py
index fc4a8c9..c6ee05a 100644
--- a/autoapi/extension.py
+++ b/autoapi/extension.py
@@ -167,6 +167,7 @@ def setup(app):
     app.add_config_value('autoapi_add_toctree_entry', True, 'html')
     app.add_config_value('autoapi_add_api_root_toctree', False, 'html')
     app.add_config_value('autoapi_template_dir', None, 'html')
+    app.add_config_value('autoapi_include_summaries', False, 'html')
     app.add_stylesheet('autoapi.css')
     directives.register_directive('autoapi-nested-parse', NestedParse)
     directives.register_directive('autoapisummary', AutoapiSummary)
diff --git a/autoapi/mappers/base.py b/autoapi/mappers/base.py
index afaacb8..c2d0974 100644
--- a/autoapi/mappers/base.py
+++ b/autoapi/mappers/base.py
@@ -290,7 +290,9 @@ class SphinxMapperBase(object):
     def output_rst(self, root, source_suffix):
         for id, obj in self.objects.items():
 
-            rst = obj.render()
+            rst = obj.render(
+                include_summaries=self.app.config.autoapi_include_summaries,
+            )
             if not rst:
                 continue
 
diff --git a/autoapi/templates/python/module.rst b/autoapi/templates/python/module.rst
index ab34408..f72ca90 100644
--- a/autoapi/templates/python/module.rst
+++ b/autoapi/templates/python/module.rst
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ Submodules
 {{ obj.type|title }} Contents
 {{ "-" * obj.type|length }}---------
 
+{% if include_summaries %}
 {% block classes %}{% if obj.classes %}
 Classes
 ~~~~~~~
@@ -71,6 +72,7 @@ Functions
    {{ function.id }}
 {%- endfor %}
 {% endif %}{% endblock %}
+{% endif %}
 
 {%- for obj_item in obj.children %}
 
diff --git a/docs/config.rst b/docs/config.rst
index 7bb9d6a..cd1d9b8 100644
--- a/docs/config.rst
+++ b/docs/config.rst
@@ -57,6 +57,12 @@ Customization Options
 
 	Relative path to output the AutoAPI files into
 
+.. confval:: autoapi_include_summaries
+
+	Default: ``False``
+
+	Whether include autosummary directives in generated module documentation.
+
 Debugging Options
 -----------------