diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index 51546affa..b9da000d0 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 # Version 7.9.0.9000
 
+## New features
+
+- Add a new `format` argument to `make()`, an optional custom storage format for targets without an explicit `target(format = ...)` in the plan (#1124).
+
 ## Enhancements
 
 - Smoothly deprecate the `config` argument in all user-side functions (#1118, @vkehayas). Users can now supply the plan and other `make()` arguments directly, without bothering with `drake_config()`. Now, you only need to call `drake_config()` in the `_drake.R` file for `r_make()` and friends. Old code with `config` objects should still work. Affected functions:
diff --git a/R/drake_config.R b/R/drake_config.R
index c4ada13bc..4209af511 100644
--- a/R/drake_config.R
+++ b/R/drake_config.R
@@ -467,6 +467,11 @@
 #'   Mac users may notice a 20% speedup in `make()`
 #'   with `build_times = FALSE`.
 #'
+#' @param format Character, an optional custom storage format for targets
+#'   without an explicit `target(format = ...)` in the plan. Details
+#'   about formats:
+#'   <https://books.ropensci.org/drake/plans.html#special-data-formats-for-targets> # nolint
+#'
 #' @examples
 #' \dontrun{
 #' isolate_example("quarantine side effects", {
@@ -539,7 +544,8 @@ drake_config <- function(
   recoverable = TRUE,
   curl_handles = list(),
   max_expand = NULL,
-  log_build_times = TRUE
+  log_build_times = TRUE,
+  format = NULL
 ) {
   logger <- logger(verbose = verbose, file = console_log_file)
   logger$minor("begin drake_config()")
@@ -661,7 +667,8 @@ drake_config <- function(
     ht_is_dynamic = ht_is_dynamic,
     ht_is_subtarget = ht_is_subtarget, # Gets replaced in make()
     max_expand = max_expand,
-    log_build_times = log_build_times
+    log_build_times = log_build_times,
+    format = format
   )
   class(out) <- c("drake_config", "drake")
   config_checks(out)
diff --git a/R/local_build.R b/R/local_build.R
index 9055f10ed..c7f2dd464 100644
--- a/R/local_build.R
+++ b/R/local_build.R
@@ -328,18 +328,14 @@ conclude_build <- function(build, config) {
   meta <- build$meta
   assert_output_files(target = target, meta = meta, config = config)
   handle_build_exceptions(target = target, meta = meta, config = config)
-  value <- assign_format(
-    target = target,
-    value = value,
-    format = config$spec[[target]]$format,
-    config = config
-  )
+  value <- assign_format(target = target, value = value, config = config)
   store_outputs(target = target, value = value, meta = meta, config = config)
   assign_to_envir(target = target, value = value, config = config)
   invisible(value)
 }
 
-assign_format <- function(target, value, format, config) {
+assign_format <- function(target, value, config) {
+  format <- config$spec[[target]]$format %||NA% config$format
   drop_format <- is.null(format) ||
     is.na(format) ||
     is.null(value) ||
diff --git a/R/make.R b/R/make.R
index a2a682db7..d004b7630 100644
--- a/R/make.R
+++ b/R/make.R
@@ -162,7 +162,8 @@ make <- function(
   recoverable = TRUE,
   curl_handles = list(),
   max_expand = NULL,
-  log_build_times = TRUE
+  log_build_times = TRUE,
+  format = NULL
 ) {
   force(envir)
   deprecate_arg(config, "config")
@@ -219,7 +220,8 @@ make <- function(
     recoverable = recoverable,
     curl_handles = curl_handles,
     max_expand = max_expand,
-    log_build_times = log_build_times
+    log_build_times = log_build_times,
+    format = format
   )
   make_impl(config)
 }
diff --git a/man/drake_config.Rd b/man/drake_config.Rd
index f0934ba2b..d8c7afcd4 100644
--- a/man/drake_config.Rd
+++ b/man/drake_config.Rd
@@ -58,7 +58,8 @@ drake_config(
   recoverable = TRUE,
   curl_handles = list(),
   max_expand = NULL,
-  log_build_times = TRUE
+  log_build_times = TRUE,
+  format = NULL
 )
 }
 \arguments{
@@ -525,6 +526,11 @@ is an argument of \code{drake_plan()} and \code{transform_plan()}.}
 \item{log_build_times}{Logical, whether to record build_times for targets.
 Mac users may notice a 20\% speedup in \code{make()}
 with \code{build_times = FALSE}.}
+
+\item{format}{Character, an optional custom storage format for targets
+without an explicit \code{target(format = ...)} in the plan. Details
+about formats:
+\url{https://books.ropensci.org/drake/plans.html#special-data-formats-for-targets} # nolint}
 }
 \value{
 A configured \code{drake} workflow.
diff --git a/man/make.Rd b/man/make.Rd
index 0852d856b..8e1863368 100644
--- a/man/make.Rd
+++ b/man/make.Rd
@@ -59,7 +59,8 @@ make(
   recoverable = TRUE,
   curl_handles = list(),
   max_expand = NULL,
-  log_build_times = TRUE
+  log_build_times = TRUE,
+  format = NULL
 )
 }
 \arguments{
@@ -528,6 +529,11 @@ is an argument of \code{drake_plan()} and \code{transform_plan()}.}
 \item{log_build_times}{Logical, whether to record build_times for targets.
 Mac users may notice a 20\% speedup in \code{make()}
 with \code{build_times = FALSE}.}
+
+\item{format}{Character, an optional custom storage format for targets
+without an explicit \code{target(format = ...)} in the plan. Details
+about formats:
+\url{https://books.ropensci.org/drake/plans.html#special-data-formats-for-targets} # nolint}
 }
 \value{
 nothing