diff --git a/railties/lib/rails/generators/rails/app/templates/config/application.rb b/railties/lib/rails/generators/rails/app/templates/config/application.rb
index a2661bfb51..6b7d7abd0b 100644
--- a/railties/lib/rails/generators/rails/app/templates/config/application.rb
+++ b/railties/lib/rails/generators/rails/app/templates/config/application.rb
@@ -32,5 +32,12 @@ module <%= app_const_base %>
     # The default locale is :en and all translations from config/locales/*.rb,yml are auto loaded.
     # config.i18n.load_path += Dir[Rails.root.join('my', 'locales', '*.{rb,yml}').to_s]
     # config.i18n.default_locale = :de
+<%- if options[:api] -%>
+
+    # Only loads a smaller set of middleware suitable for API only apps.
+    # Middleware like session, flash, cookies can be added back manually.
+    # Skip views, helpers and assets when generating a new resource.
+    config.api_only = true
+<%- end -%>
   end
 end
diff --git a/railties/test/generators/api_app_generator_test.rb b/railties/test/generators/api_app_generator_test.rb
index 1aa3884466..ff70729110 100644
--- a/railties/test/generators/api_app_generator_test.rb
+++ b/railties/test/generators/api_app_generator_test.rb
@@ -39,6 +39,10 @@ class ApiAppGeneratorTest < Rails::Generators::TestCase
       assert_no_match(/gem 'sass-rails'/, content)
     end
 
+    assert_file "config/application.rb" do |content|
+      assert_match(/config.api_only = true/, content)
+    end
+
     assert_file "config/initializers/wrap_parameters.rb" do |content|
       assert_no_match(/wrap_parameters/, content)
     end