diff --git a/docs/configuration.rst b/docs/configuration.rst
index 51bdd4f0..ca6d6485 100644
--- a/docs/configuration.rst
+++ b/docs/configuration.rst
@@ -3520,6 +3520,17 @@ Description
     Note: This requires 1 additional API request per bookmarked post.
 
 
+extractor.pixiv.captions
+------------------------
+Type
+    ``bool``
+Default
+    ``false``
+Description
+    For works with seemingly empty ``caption`` metadata,
+    try to grab the actual ``caption`` value using the AJAX API.
+
+
 extractor.pixiv.comments
 ------------------------
 Type
diff --git a/gallery_dl/extractor/pixiv.py b/gallery_dl/extractor/pixiv.py
index 49fbeee2..ab8c5979 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/extractor/pixiv.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/extractor/pixiv.py
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ class PixivExtractor(Extractor):
         self.meta_user = self.config("metadata")
         self.meta_bookmark = self.config("metadata-bookmark")
         self.meta_comments = self.config("comments")
+        self.meta_captions = self.config("captions")
 
     def items(self):
         tags = self.config("tags", "japanese")
@@ -76,7 +77,7 @@ class PixivExtractor(Extractor):
                 detail = self.api.illust_bookmark_detail(work["id"])
                 work["tags_bookmark"] = [tag["name"] for tag in detail["tags"]
                                          if tag["is_registered"]]
-            if self.sanity_workaround and not work.get("caption") and \
+            if self.meta_captions and not work.get("caption") and \
                     not work.get("_mypixiv") and not work.get("_ajax"):
                 body = self._request_ajax("/illust/" + str(work["id"]))
                 if body:
@@ -294,9 +295,6 @@ class PixivExtractor(Extractor):
             "x_restrict"      : 0,
         }
 
-    def _web_to_mobile(self, work):
-        return work
-
     def works(self):
         """Return an iterable containing all relevant 'work' objects"""
 
diff --git a/test/results/pixiv.py b/test/results/pixiv.py
index f06e7eab..d26ce55c 100644
--- a/test/results/pixiv.py
+++ b/test/results/pixiv.py
@@ -277,6 +277,7 @@ __tests__ = (
     "#url"     : "https://www.pixiv.net/en/artworks/103983466",
     "#comment" : "empty 'caption' in App API response (#4327, #5191)",
     "#class"   : pixiv.PixivWorkExtractor,
+    "#options" : {"captions": True},
 
     "caption": r"re:Either she doesn't know how to pose or she can't move with that much clothing on her, in any case she's very well dressed for a holiday trip around town. Lots of stuff to see and a perfect day to grab some sweet pastries at the bakery.<br />...",
 },