diff --git a/plugin/ale/aaflags.vim b/plugin/ale/aaflags.vim
index 4fc74b4e..9f022beb 100644
--- a/plugin/ale/aaflags.vim
+++ b/plugin/ale/aaflags.vim
@@ -45,3 +45,8 @@ endif
 if !exists('g:ale_warn_about_trailing_whitespace')
     let g:ale_warn_about_trailing_whitespace = 1
 endif
+
+" This flag can be set to 1 to keep sign gutter always open
+if !exists('g:ale_sign_column_always')
+    let g:ale_sign_column_always = 0
+endif
diff --git a/plugin/ale/sign.vim b/plugin/ale/sign.vim
index ee23eafb..322b2362 100644
--- a/plugin/ale/sign.vim
+++ b/plugin/ale/sign.vim
@@ -4,8 +4,6 @@ endif
 
 let g:loaded_ale_sign = 1
 
-let g:ale_sign_column_always = 0
-
 if !hlexists('ALEErrorSign')
     highlight link ALErrorSign error
 endif