diff --git a/conf/defaults.ini b/conf/defaults.ini
index 01402103b07..3350954a150 100644
--- a/conf/defaults.ini
+++ b/conf/defaults.ini
@@ -142,6 +142,9 @@ auto_assign_org_role = Viewer
 # Require email validation before sign up completes
 verify_email_enabled = false
 
+# Background text for the user field on the login page
+login_hint = email or username
+
 #################################### Anonymous Auth ##########################
 [auth.anonymous]
 # enable anonymous access
diff --git a/conf/sample.ini b/conf/sample.ini
index e8550c66c1a..df092cda5ed 100644
--- a/conf/sample.ini
+++ b/conf/sample.ini
@@ -134,6 +134,9 @@
 # Default role new users will be automatically assigned (if disabled above is set to true)
 ;auto_assign_org_role = Viewer
 
+# Background text for the user field on the login page
+;login_hint = email or username
+
 #################################### Anonymous Auth ##########################
 [auth.anonymous]
 # enable anonymous access
diff --git a/pkg/api/login.go b/pkg/api/login.go
index 8863e1b10c1..d691270ad72 100644
--- a/pkg/api/login.go
+++ b/pkg/api/login.go
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ func LoginView(c *middleware.Context) {
 	settings["googleAuthEnabled"] = setting.OAuthService.Google
 	settings["githubAuthEnabled"] = setting.OAuthService.GitHub
 	settings["disableUserSignUp"] = !setting.AllowUserSignUp
+	settings["loginHint"] = setting.LoginHint
 
 	if !tryLoginUsingRememberCookie(c) {
 		c.HTML(200, VIEW_INDEX)
diff --git a/pkg/setting/setting.go b/pkg/setting/setting.go
index ac465e294ea..f59333f8426 100644
--- a/pkg/setting/setting.go
+++ b/pkg/setting/setting.go
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ var (
 	AutoAssignOrg      bool
 	AutoAssignOrgRole  string
 	VerifyEmailEnabled bool
+	LoginHint          string
 
 	// Http auth
 	AdminUser     string
@@ -436,6 +437,7 @@ func NewConfigContext(args *CommandLineArgs) error {
 	AutoAssignOrg = users.Key("auto_assign_org").MustBool(true)
 	AutoAssignOrgRole = users.Key("auto_assign_org_role").In("Editor", []string{"Editor", "Admin", "Read Only Editor", "Viewer"})
 	VerifyEmailEnabled = users.Key("verify_email_enabled").MustBool(false)
+	LoginHint = users.Key("login_hint").String()
 
 	// anonymous access
 	AnonymousEnabled = Cfg.Section("auth.anonymous").Key("enabled").MustBool(false)
diff --git a/public/app/core/controllers/login_ctrl.js b/public/app/core/controllers/login_ctrl.js
index 22cb2c6f04b..df58112e871 100644
--- a/public/app/core/controllers/login_ctrl.js
+++ b/public/app/core/controllers/login_ctrl.js
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ function (angular, coreModule, config) {
     $scope.googleAuthEnabled = config.googleAuthEnabled;
     $scope.githubAuthEnabled = config.githubAuthEnabled;
     $scope.disableUserSignUp = config.disableUserSignUp;
+    $scope.loginHint     = config.loginHint;
 
     $scope.loginMode = true;
     $scope.submitBtnText = 'Log in';
diff --git a/public/app/partials/login.html b/public/app/partials/login.html
index 630f295ecd3..98ed0899316 100644
--- a/public/app/partials/login.html
+++ b/public/app/partials/login.html
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 								<strong>User</strong>
 							</li>
 							<li>
-								<input type="text" name="username" class="tight-form-input last" required ng-model='formModel.user' placeholder="email or username" style="width: 253px">
+								<input type="text" name="username" class="tight-form-input last" required ng-model='formModel.user' placeholder={{loginHint}} style="width: 253px">
 							</li>
 						</ul>
 						<div class="clearfix"></div>