diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 57a4847..3daaadc 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@
 lazy-lock.json
 spell/*.spl
+lua/local.lua
diff --git a/init.lua b/init.lua
index 769625e..fb4658d 100644
--- a/init.lua
+++ b/init.lua
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@ if vim.g.neovide then
   vim.g.neovide_cursor_animation_length = 0
 end
 
+-- load config from lua/local.lua if present
+pcall(function() require('local') end)
+
 local lazypath = vim.fn.stdpath('data') .. '/lazy/lazy.nvim'
 if not vim.loop.fs_stat(lazypath) then
   vim.fn.system({ 'git', 'clone', '--filter=blob:none',