diff --git a/markdownify/__init__.py b/markdownify/__init__.py
index b2f208c..32c397c 100644
--- a/markdownify/__init__.py
+++ b/markdownify/__init__.py
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ class MarkdownConverter(object):
     class DefaultOptions:
         strip = None
         convert = None
+        autolinks = True
 
     class Options(DefaultOptions):
         pass
@@ -98,7 +99,7 @@ class MarkdownConverter(object):
     def convert_a(self, el, text):
         href = el.get('href')
         title = el.get('title')
-        if text == href and not title:
+        if self.options['autolinks'] and text == href and not title:
             # Shortcut syntax
             return '<%s>' % href
         title_part = ' "%s"' % title.replace('"', r'\"') if title else ''
diff --git a/tests/test_conversions.py b/tests/test_conversions.py
index 12bf631..abbbdd5 100644
--- a/tests/test_conversions.py
+++ b/tests/test_conversions.py
@@ -15,6 +15,11 @@ def test_a_shortcut():
     assert text == r'<http://google.com>'
 
 
+def test_a_no_autolinks():
+    text = md('<a href="http://google.com">http://google.com</a>', autolinks=False)
+    assert text == '[http://google.com](http://google.com)'
+
+
 def test_b():
     assert md('<b>Hello</b>') == '**Hello**'