diff --git a/home/modules/anki/default.nix b/home/modules/anki/default.nix
index 307a667..913927f 100644
--- a/home/modules/anki/default.nix
+++ b/home/modules/anki/default.nix
@@ -53,6 +53,9 @@ in
           keyFile = "${sops.secrets."anki/sync-key".path}";
         };
       };
+
+      # allow Anki to write prefs
+      home.file."${config.xdg.dataHome}/Anki2/prefs21.db".enable = lib.mkForce false;
     }
   );
 }