diff --git a/docs/configuration.rst b/docs/configuration.rst
index 16918298..cb535e3f 100644
--- a/docs/configuration.rst
+++ b/docs/configuration.rst
@@ -2286,6 +2286,16 @@ Description
     | Leave ``SIZE`` empty to download the regular, small avatar format.
 
 
+extractor.deviantart.folder.subfolders
+--------------------------------------
+Type
+    ``bool``
+Default
+    ``true``
+Description
+    Also extract subfolder content.
+
+
 extractor.discord.embeds
 ------------------------
 Type
diff --git a/docs/gallery-dl.conf b/docs/gallery-dl.conf
index 7887fd5e..2cfc744e 100644
--- a/docs/gallery-dl.conf
+++ b/docs/gallery-dl.conf
@@ -235,6 +235,9 @@
 
             "avatar": {
                 "formats": null
+            },
+            "folder": {
+                "subfolders": true
             }
         },
         "exhentai":
diff --git a/gallery_dl/extractor/deviantart.py b/gallery_dl/extractor/deviantart.py
index 1c43fbaf..200840dd 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/extractor/deviantart.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/extractor/deviantart.py
@@ -1018,7 +1018,7 @@ class DeviantartFolderExtractor(DeviantartExtractor):
                                       "{folder[parent_folder]}",
                                       "{folder[title]}")
 
-        if folder.get("has_subfolders"):
+        if folder.get("has_subfolders") and self.config("subfolders", True):
             for subfolder in folder["subfolders"]:
                 subfolder["parent_folder"] = folder["name"]
                 subfolder["subfolder"] = True