diff --git a/src/engine.cpp b/src/engine.cpp
index 438652ae..6151f948 100644
--- a/src/engine.cpp
+++ b/src/engine.cpp
@@ -41,9 +41,7 @@ using std::filesystem::path;
 using glm::vec3;
 using gui::GUI;
 
-Engine::Engine(const EngineSettings& settings_) {
-    this->settings = settings_;
-    
+Engine::Engine(EngineSettings& settings) : settings(settings) {    
 	Window::initialize(settings.display);
 
 	assets = new Assets();
diff --git a/src/engine.h b/src/engine.h
index 058a4c19..76c56ee3 100644
--- a/src/engine.h
+++ b/src/engine.h
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ public:
 class Engine {
 	Assets* assets;
 	std::shared_ptr<Screen> screen = nullptr;
-	EngineSettings settings;
+	EngineSettings& settings;
 
 	uint64_t frame = 0;
 	double lastTime = 0.0;
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ class Engine {
 
 	gui::GUI* gui;
 public:
-	Engine(const EngineSettings& settings);
+	Engine(EngineSettings& settings);
 	~Engine();
 
 	void updateTimers();
diff --git a/src/voxel_engine.cpp b/src/voxel_engine.cpp
index cc116389..b0a57e77 100644
--- a/src/voxel_engine.cpp
+++ b/src/voxel_engine.cpp
@@ -57,6 +57,9 @@ int main() {
 		}
 		Engine engine(settings);
 		engine.mainloop();
+		
+		std::cout << "-- saving settings" << std::endl;
+		files::write_string(settings_file, wrapper.write());
 	}
 	catch (const initialize_error& err) {
 		std::cerr << "could not to initialize engine" << std::endl;