diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/__init__.py b/src/calibre/gui2/__init__.py
index 0b21502327..8dbc72ab98 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/__init__.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/__init__.py
@@ -7,12 +7,13 @@ from urllib import unquote
 from PyQt4.Qt import (QVariant, QFileInfo, QObject, SIGNAL, QBuffer, Qt,
                     QByteArray, QTranslator, QCoreApplication, QThread,
                     QEvent, QTimer, pyqtSignal, QDate, QDesktopServices,
-                    QFileDialog, QFileIconProvider,
+                    QFileDialog, QFileIconProvider, QSettings,
                     QIcon, QApplication, QDialog, QUrl, QFont)
 
 ORG_NAME = 'KovidsBrain'
 APP_UID  = 'libprs500'
-from calibre.constants import islinux, iswindows, isbsd, isfrozen, isosx
+from calibre.constants import (islinux, iswindows, isbsd, isfrozen, isosx,
+        config_dir)
 from calibre.utils.config import Config, ConfigProxy, dynamic, JSONConfig
 from calibre.utils.localization import set_qt_translator
 from calibre.ebooks.metadata import MetaInformation
@@ -192,6 +193,11 @@ def _config(): # {{{
 config = _config()
 # }}}
 
+QSettings.setPath(QSettings.IniFormat, QSettings.UserScope, config_dir)
+QSettings.setPath(QSettings.IniFormat, QSettings.SystemScope,
+        config_dir)
+QSettings.setDefaultFormat(QSettings.IniFormat)
+
 # Turn off DeprecationWarnings in windows GUI
 if iswindows:
     import warnings