diff --git a/lib/aasm.rb b/lib/aasm.rb
index 9a93b02..b4dd7d9 100644
--- a/lib/aasm.rb
+++ b/lib/aasm.rb
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ require 'ostruct'
 %w(
     version
     errors
+    configuration
     base
     instance_base
     transition
diff --git a/lib/aasm/base.rb b/lib/aasm/base.rb
index 867393c..b223fbd 100644
--- a/lib/aasm/base.rb
+++ b/lib/aasm/base.rb
@@ -95,7 +95,6 @@ module AASM
     private
 
     def configure(key, default_value)
-      @state_machine.config.send(:new_ostruct_member, key)
       if @options.key?(key)
         @state_machine.config.send("#{key}=", @options[key])
       elsif @state_machine.config.send(key).nil?
diff --git a/lib/aasm/configuration.rb b/lib/aasm/configuration.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2ec2218
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/aasm/configuration.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+module AASM
+  class Configuration
+    # for all persistence layers: which database column to use?
+    attr_accessor :column
+
+    # let's cry if the transition is invalid
+    attr_accessor :whiny_transitions
+
+    # for all persistence layers: create named scopes for each state
+    attr_accessor :create_scopes
+
+    # for ActiveRecord: don't store any new state if the model is invalid
+    attr_accessor :skip_validation_on_save
+
+    # for ActiveRecord: use requires_new for nested transactions?
+    attr_accessor :requires_new_transaction
+
+    # forbid direct assignment in aasm_state column (in ActiveRecord)
+    attr_accessor :no_direct_assignment
+  end
+end
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/aasm/state_machine.rb b/lib/aasm/state_machine.rb
index 2e9ed07..33ba0d2 100644
--- a/lib/aasm/state_machine.rb
+++ b/lib/aasm/state_machine.rb
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ module AASM
       @initial_state = nil
       @states = []
       @events = {}
-      @config = OpenStruct.new
+      @config = AASM::Configuration.new
     end
 
     # called internally by Ruby 1.9 after clone()