diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 3849329..aaeb748 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -126,6 +126,35 @@ c.LDAPAuthenticator.allowed_groups = [
 ]
 ```
 
+#### `LDAPAuthenticator.group_filter` ####
+
+The LDAP group search filter.
+
+The default value is a LDAP OR search that looks like the following:
+
+```
+(|(member={userdn})(uniqueMember={userdn})(memberUid={uid}))
+```
+
+So it basically compares the `userdn` attribute against the `member` attribute,
+then against the `uniqueMember`, and finally checks the `memberUid` against
+the `uid`.
+
+If you modify this value, you probably want to change `group_attributes` too.
+Here is an example that should work with OpenLDAP servers.
+
+```
+(member={userdn})
+```
+
+#### `LDAPAuthenticator.group_attributes` ####
+
+A list of attributes used when searching for LDAP groups.
+
+By default uses `member`, `uniqueMember`, and `memberUid`. Certain
+servers may reject invalid values causing exceptions during
+authentication.
+
 #### `LDAPAuthenticator.valid_username_regex` ####
 
 All usernames will be checked against this before being sent
diff --git a/ldapauthenticator/ldapauthenticator.py b/ldapauthenticator/ldapauthenticator.py
index 0cc80d1..e745bff 100644
--- a/ldapauthenticator/ldapauthenticator.py
+++ b/ldapauthenticator/ldapauthenticator.py
@@ -86,6 +86,23 @@ def _server_port_default(self):
         """,
     )
 
+    group_filter = Unicode(
+        config=True,
+        default_value="(|(member={userdn})(uniqueMember={userdn})(memberUid={uid}))",
+        help="""
+        The search filter used to locate groups.
+
+        Certain server types may use different values, and may also
+        reject invalid values by raising exceptions.
+        """,
+    )
+
+    group_attributes = List(
+        config=True,
+        default_value=["member", "uniqueMember", "memberUid"],
+        help="List of attributes to be searched",
+    )
+
     # FIXME: Use something other than this? THIS IS LAME, akin to websites restricting things you
     # can use in usernames / passwords to protect from SQL injection!
     valid_username_regex = Unicode(
@@ -428,18 +445,17 @@ def authenticate(self, handler, data):
                 return None
 
         if self.allowed_groups:
+            if not self.group_filter or not self.group_attributes:
+                self.log.warning(
+                    "Missing group_filter or group_attributes. Both are required."
+                )
+                return None
             self.log.debug("username:%s Using dn %s", username, userdn)
             found = False
             for group in self.allowed_groups:
-                group_filter = (
-                    "(|"
-                    "(member={userdn})"
-                    "(uniqueMember={userdn})"
-                    "(memberUid={uid})"
-                    ")"
-                )
+                group_filter = self.group_filter
                 group_filter = group_filter.format(userdn=userdn, uid=username)
-                group_attributes = ["member", "uniqueMember", "memberUid"]
+                group_attributes = self.group_attributes
                 found = conn.search(
                     group,
                     search_scope=ldap3.BASE,
diff --git a/ldapauthenticator/tests/conftest.py b/ldapauthenticator/tests/conftest.py
index 545744f..21649da 100644
--- a/ldapauthenticator/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/ldapauthenticator/tests/conftest.py
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ def authenticator():
     authenticator.escape_userdn = True
     authenticator.attributes = ["uid", "cn", "mail", "ou"]
     authenticator.use_lookup_dn_username = False
+    authenticator.group_filter = '(|(member={userdn})(uniqueMember={userdn})(memberUid={uid}))'
+    authenticator.group_attributes = ["member", "uniqueMember", "memberUid"]
 
     authenticator.allowed_groups = [
         "cn=admin_staff,ou=people,dc=planetexpress,dc=com",
diff --git a/ldapauthenticator/tests/test_ldapauthenticator.py b/ldapauthenticator/tests/test_ldapauthenticator.py
index 6471213..8e52163 100644
--- a/ldapauthenticator/tests/test_ldapauthenticator.py
+++ b/ldapauthenticator/tests/test_ldapauthenticator.py
@@ -100,3 +100,15 @@ async def test_ldap_auth_state_attributes(authenticator):
     )
     assert authorized["name"] == "fry"
     assert authorized["auth_state"] == {"employeeType": ["Delivery boy"]}
+
+
+async def test_ldap_auth_state_attributes2(authenticator):
+    authenticator.group_filter = "(cn=ship_crew)"
+    authenticator.group_attributes = ["cn"]
+    authenticator.auth_state_attributes = ["description"]
+    # proper username and password in allowed group
+    authorized = await authenticator.get_authenticated_user(
+        None, {"username": "leela", "password": "leela"}
+    )
+    assert authorized["name"] == "leela"
+    assert authorized["auth_state"] == {"description": ["Mutant"]}