diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7edaa8f..4681d7b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -237,6 +237,11 @@ local opts = {
     -- automatically call RustReloadWorkspace when writing to a Cargo.toml file.
     reload_workspace_from_cargo_toml = true,
 
+    -- function for opening external URLs
+    open_url = function(url)
+      vim.fn["netrw#BrowseX"](url, 0)
+    end,
+
     -- These apply to the default RustSetInlayHints command
     inlay_hints = {
       -- automatically set inlay hints (type hints)
diff --git a/lua/rust-tools/config.lua b/lua/rust-tools/config.lua
index 2854138..d64b16c 100644
--- a/lua/rust-tools/config.lua
+++ b/lua/rust-tools/config.lua
@@ -21,6 +21,11 @@ local defaults = {
     -- automatically call RustReloadWorkspace when writing to a Cargo.toml file.
     reload_workspace_from_cargo_toml = true,
 
+    -- function for opening external URLs
+    open_url = function(url)
+      vim.fn["netrw#BrowseX"](url, 0)
+    end,
+
     -- These apply to the default RustSetInlayHints command
     inlay_hints = {
       -- automatically set inlay hints (type hints)
diff --git a/lua/rust-tools/external_docs.lua b/lua/rust-tools/external_docs.lua
index 20f1dcd..47da51d 100644
--- a/lua/rust-tools/external_docs.lua
+++ b/lua/rust-tools/external_docs.lua
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ function M.open_external_docs()
     vim.lsp.util.make_position_params(),
     function(_, url)
       if url then
-        vim.fn["netrw#BrowseX"](url, 0)
+        rt.config.options.tools.open_url(url)
       end
     end
   )