diff --git a/pqcli/__main__.py b/pqcli/__main__.py
index 264433f..dd37751 100644
--- a/pqcli/__main__.py
+++ b/pqcli/__main__.py
@@ -45,15 +45,6 @@ def parse_args() -> argparse.Namespace:
         help="Disable color highlighting in curses interface",
     )
 
-    parser.add_argument(
-        "--no-config",
-        dest="use_config",
-        action="store_false",
-        help=(
-            "Don't load or save configuration files from $XDG_CONFIG_HOME "
-            "(player data will still be saved)"
-        ),
-    )
     parser.add_argument(
         "--no-save",
         dest="use_saves",
diff --git a/pqcli/ui/urwid/__init__.py b/pqcli/ui/urwid/__init__.py
index 0bf8df4..c5bc372 100644
--- a/pqcli/ui/urwid/__init__.py
+++ b/pqcli/ui/urwid/__init__.py
@@ -1,10 +1,8 @@
 import argparse
 import json
 import typing as T
-from pathlib import Path
 
 import urwid
-import xdg
 
 from pqcli import lingo, random
 from pqcli.mechanic import Player
@@ -30,21 +28,6 @@ PALETTE: T.List[T.Tuple[str, ...]] = [
     ("scrollable", "", ""),
     ("scrollable-focus", "", ""),
 ]
-PALETTE_PATH = Path(xdg.XDG_CONFIG_HOME) / "pqcli" / "palette.json"
-
-
-def load_palette() -> bool:
-    global PALETTE
-    if PALETTE_PATH.exists():
-        PALETTE = json.loads(PALETTE_PATH.read_text())
-        return True
-    return False
-
-
-def save_palette() -> None:
-    global PALETTE
-    PALETTE_PATH.parent.mkdir(exist_ok=True, parents=True)
-    PALETTE_PATH.write_text(json.dumps(PALETTE, indent=4))
 
 
 class ConfirmExitDialog(ConfirmView):
@@ -69,10 +52,6 @@ class UrwidUserInterface(BaseUserInterface):
 
         bind_commands()
 
-        if args.use_config:
-            if not load_palette():
-                save_palette()  # create a file for the user to edit
-
         self.loop = urwid.MainLoop(
             None, PALETTE, unhandled_input=self.unhandled_input
         )