diff --git a/src/python/pants/backend/python/lint/autoflake/rules.py b/src/python/pants/backend/python/lint/autoflake/rules.py
index b7f08226d21..555d0bd13a0 100644
--- a/src/python/pants/backend/python/lint/autoflake/rules.py
+++ b/src/python/pants/backend/python/lint/autoflake/rules.py
@@ -47,7 +47,6 @@ async def autoflake_fmt(request: AutoflakeRequest, autoflake: Autoflake) -> FmtR
             autoflake_pex,
             argv=(
                 "--in-place",
-                "--remove-all-unused-imports",
                 *autoflake.args,
                 *request.snapshot.files,
             ),
diff --git a/src/python/pants/backend/python/lint/autoflake/subsystem.py b/src/python/pants/backend/python/lint/autoflake/subsystem.py
index 88927791e92..c67d9e9d5c3 100644
--- a/src/python/pants/backend/python/lint/autoflake/subsystem.py
+++ b/src/python/pants/backend/python/lint/autoflake/subsystem.py
@@ -33,7 +33,13 @@ class Autoflake(PythonToolBase):
     default_lockfile_url = git_url(default_lockfile_path)
 
     skip = SkipOption("fmt", "lint")
-    args = ArgsListOption(example="--target-version=py37 --quiet")
+    args = ArgsListOption(
+        example="--remove-all-unused-imports --target-version=py37 --quiet",
+        # This argument was previously hardcoded. Moved it a default argument
+        # to allow it to be overridden while maintaining the existing api.
+        # See: https://github.com/pantsbuild/pants/issues/16193
+        default=["--remove-all-unused-imports"],
+    )
     export = ExportToolOption()
 
 
diff --git a/src/python/pants/option/option_types.py b/src/python/pants/option/option_types.py
index a5e790adbd2..8d5a7d82d4a 100644
--- a/src/python/pants/option/option_types.py
+++ b/src/python/pants/option/option_types.py
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ def __new__(
         cls,
         flag_name: str | None = None,
         *,
-        default: _MaybeDynamicT[list[_ListMemberT]] = [],
+        default: _MaybeDynamicT[list[_ListMemberT]] | None = [],
         help: _HelpT,
         # Additional bells/whistles
         register_if: _RegisterIfFuncT | None = None,
@@ -789,6 +789,7 @@ def __new__(
         # This should be set when callers can alternatively use "--" followed by the arguments,
         # instead of having to provide "--[scope]-args='--arg1 --arg2'".
         passthrough: bool | None = None,
+        default: _MaybeDynamicT[list[_ListMemberT]] | None = None,
     ):
         if extra_help:
             extra_help = "\n\n" + extra_help
@@ -802,6 +803,7 @@ def __new__(
                     """
                 )
             ),
+            default=default,  # type: ignore[arg-type]
         )
         if passthrough is not None:
             instance._extra_kwargs["passthrough"] = passthrough