diff --git a/lisp/cus-start.el b/lisp/cus-start.el
index c0a4a6dda0..d17c419c36 100644
--- a/lisp/cus-start.el
+++ b/lisp/cus-start.el
@@ -302,6 +302,7 @@ minibuffer-prompt-properties--setter
 	     ;; fns.c
 	     (use-dialog-box menu boolean "21.1")
 	     (use-file-dialog menu boolean "22.1")
+	     (use-short-answers menu boolean "28.1")
 	     (focus-follows-mouse
               frames (choice
                       (const :tag "Off (nil)" :value nil)
diff --git a/lisp/emacs-lisp/map-ynp.el b/lisp/emacs-lisp/map-ynp.el
index 14112a1c14..6be57a4fca 100644
--- a/lisp/emacs-lisp/map-ynp.el
+++ b/lisp/emacs-lisp/map-ynp.el
@@ -304,7 +304,8 @@ read-answer
 
 When `use-dialog-box' is t, pop up a dialog window to get user input."
   (let* ((short (if (eq read-answer-short 'auto)
-                    (eq (symbol-function 'yes-or-no-p) 'y-or-n-p)
+                    (or use-short-answers
+                        (eq (symbol-function 'yes-or-no-p) 'y-or-n-p))
                   read-answer-short))
          (answers-with-help
           (if (assoc "help" answers)
diff --git a/src/fns.c b/src/fns.c
index c16f9c6399..f51ef2781d 100644
--- a/src/fns.c
+++ b/src/fns.c
@@ -2873,6 +2873,11 @@ DEFUN ("yes-or-no-p", Fyes_or_no_p, Syes_or_no_p, 1, 1, 0,
       return obj;
     }
 
+  if (use_short_answers)
+    {
+      return call1 (intern ("y-or-n-p"), prompt);
+    }
+
   AUTO_STRING (yes_or_no, "(yes or no) ");
   prompt = CALLN (Fconcat, prompt, yes_or_no);
 
@@ -5904,6 +5909,10 @@ syms_of_fns (void)
 this variable.  */);
   use_file_dialog = true;
 
+  DEFVAR_BOOL ("use-short-answers", use_short_answers,
+    doc: /* Non-nil means `yes-or-no-p' uses shorter answers "y" or "n".  */);
+  use_short_answers = false;
+
   defsubr (&Sidentity);
   defsubr (&Srandom);
   defsubr (&Slength);