diff --git a/modules/xdg.nix b/modules/xdg.nix
index 5d74fda..e8ad901 100644
--- a/modules/xdg.nix
+++ b/modules/xdg.nix
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 { pkgs, ... }: {
   home.home.packages = [ pkgs.xdg-utils ];
-  config.xdg.portal = {
-    enable = true;
-    lxqt.enable = true;
-  };
+  config.xdg.portal.enable = false;
+  # ^ portal is enabled in .xinitrc as this didn't work
 }
diff --git a/modules/xmonad.nix b/modules/xmonad.nix
index c887ba2..0eca67a 100644
--- a/modules/xmonad.nix
+++ b/modules/xmonad.nix
@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@
       fi
     '';
     home.file.".xinitrc".text = ''
+      export XDG_DESKTOP_PORTAL_DIR=${pkgs.xdg-desktop-portal-gnome}/share/xdg-desktop-portal/portals
+      ${pkgs.xdg-desktop-portal-gnome}/libexec/xdg-desktop-portal-gnome &
+      ${pkgs.xdg-desktop-portal}/libexec/xdg-desktop-portal &
       ${home.xsession.windowManager.command}
     '';
   };