diff --git a/home/common.nix b/home/common.nix
index 925f92f9..eb51ea62 100644
--- a/home/common.nix
+++ b/home/common.nix
@@ -170,6 +170,7 @@ in rec {
       pull.ff = "only";
       pull.rebase = true;
       core.editor = "kak";
+      core.fileMode = false; # don't track changes to file modes
     };
   };
 }