diff --git a/.dir-locals.el b/.dir-locals.el
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..248a6ef4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.dir-locals.el
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+((nil
+  (format-all-formatters
+   ("Nix" alejandra))))
diff --git a/.dir-locals.el~ b/.dir-locals.el~
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e69de29b
diff --git a/config/emacs/emacs.org b/config/emacs/emacs.org
index 37f9c87f..ca72463e 100644
--- a/config/emacs/emacs.org
+++ b/config/emacs/emacs.org
@@ -536,9 +536,12 @@ make sure to setup authinfo
 #+end_src
 *** Formatting
 #+begin_src emacs-lisp
-  (use-package format-all
-    :config
-    (setq format-all-formatters '(("Nix" . "alejandra"))))
+(use-package format-all
+  :custom
+  ((setq format-all-formatters (("Nix" alejandra))))
+  :hook
+  ((format-all-mode . format-all-ensure-formatter)
+   (prog-mode . format-all-mode)))
 #+end_src
 ** Dired (quick file management in emacs)
 Dired is a built-in file manager for Emacs that does some pretty amazing things!  Here are some key bindings you should try out:
diff --git a/config/emacs/init.el b/config/emacs/init.el
index e1080a84..264f9cd4 100644
--- a/config/emacs/init.el
+++ b/config/emacs/init.el
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-
 ;; UI/UX
 (setq inhibit-startup-message t)
 ;; make it look like neovim a little
@@ -456,8 +455,11 @@
   :hook (company-mode . company-box-mode))
 
 (use-package format-all
-  :config
-  (setq format-all-formatters '(("Nix" . "alejandra"))))
+  :custom
+  ((setq format-all-formatters (("Nix" alejandra))))
+  :hook
+  ((format-all-mode . format-all-ensure-formatter)
+   (prog-mode . format-all-mode)))
 
 (use-package dired
   :ensure nil