diff --git a/home/home.nix b/home/home.nix
index 324c482..f33404e 100644
--- a/home/home.nix
+++ b/home/home.nix
@@ -350,6 +350,11 @@ in
       "[nix]" = {
         "editor.insertSpaces" = true;
         "editor.tabSize" = 2;
+        "editor.defaultFormatter" = "kamadorueda.alejandra";
+        # for now, disable automatic formatting to prevent disruption of existing code bases
+        "editor.formatOnPaste" = false;
+        "editor.formatOnSave" = false;
+        "editor.formatOnType" = false;
       };
       "editor.fontSize" = 13;
       "editor.fontWeight" = "normal";