diff --git a/tailbone/api/auth.py b/tailbone/api/auth.py
index c4d04b90..584f397e 100644
--- a/tailbone/api/auth.py
+++ b/tailbone/api/auth.py
@@ -57,6 +57,16 @@ class AuthenticationView(APIView):
             data['background_color'] = self.rattail_config.get(
                 'tailbone', 'background_color')
 
+        # TODO: this seems the best place to return some global app
+        # settings, but maybe not desirable in all cases..in which
+        # case should caller need to ask for these explicitly?  or
+        # make a different call altogether to get them..?
+        app = self.get_rattail_app()
+        customer_handler = app.get_clientele_handler()
+        data['settings'] = {
+            'customer_field_dropdown': customer_handler.choice_uses_dropdown(),
+        }
+
         return data
 
     @api
diff --git a/tailbone/api/customers.py b/tailbone/api/customers.py
index fdd2c18e..9a06caaa 100644
--- a/tailbone/api/customers.py
+++ b/tailbone/api/customers.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 ################################################################################
 #
 #  Rattail -- Retail Software Framework
-#  Copyright © 2010-2020 Lance Edgar
+#  Copyright © 2010-2022 Lance Edgar
 #
 #  This file is part of Rattail.
 #
@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@ class CustomerView(APIMasterView):
     model_class = model.Customer
     collection_url_prefix = '/customers'
     object_url_prefix = '/customer'
+    supports_autocomplete = True
+    autocomplete_fieldname = 'name'
 
     def normalize(self, customer):
         return {