diff --git a/hosts/common/programs/firefox/default.nix b/hosts/common/programs/firefox/default.nix
index 2035a6a47..ff9f8ddc2 100644
--- a/hosts/common/programs/firefox/default.nix
+++ b/hosts/common/programs/firefox/default.nix
@@ -255,11 +255,13 @@ in
       // - to add a search shortcut: right-click any search box => "Add a keyword for this search".
       // - to update the static bookmarks, export via Hamburger => bookmarks => manage bookmarks => Import and Backup => Export Bookmarks To HTML
       defaultPref("browser.places.importBookmarksHTML", true);
-      defaultPref("browser.bookmarks.file", "${./bookmarks.html}");
+      defaultPref("browser.bookmarks.file", "~/.mozilla/firefox/bookmarks.html");
 
       defaultPref("browser.startup.homepage", "https://uninsane.org/places");
     '';
 
+    fs.".mozilla/firefox/bookmarks.html".symlink.target = ./bookmarks.html;
+
     # instruct Firefox to put the profile in a predictable directory (so we can do things like persist just it).
     # XXX: the directory *must* exist, even if empty; Firefox will not create the directory itself.
     fs.".mozilla/firefox/profiles.ini".symlink.text = ''