diff --git a/profiles/develop/zsh/default.nix b/profiles/develop/zsh/default.nix
index e4523f9c..c5163a4b 100644
--- a/profiles/develop/zsh/default.nix
+++ b/profiles/develop/zsh/default.nix
@@ -127,6 +127,9 @@ in
         eval "$(${pkgs.direnv}/bin/direnv hook zsh)"
         eval $(${pkgs.gitAndTools.hub}/bin/hub alias -s)
         source ${pkgs.skim}/share/skim/key-bindings.zsh
+
+        # needs to remain at bottom so as not to be overwritten
+        bindkey jj vi-cmd-mode
       '';
   };
 }
diff --git a/profiles/develop/zsh/zshrc b/profiles/develop/zsh/zshrc
index f223084a..a7f7b9bc 100644
--- a/profiles/develop/zsh/zshrc
+++ b/profiles/develop/zsh/zshrc
@@ -29,7 +29,8 @@ SAVEHIST=10000
 HISTFILE=$HOME/.history
 DIRSTACKSIZE=5
 
-# history substring search keybinds
+# key binds
+bindkey -v '^?' backward-delete-char
 bindkey '^[OA' history-substring-search-up
 bindkey '^[OB' history-substring-search-down
 bindkey -M vicmd 'k' history-substring-search-up
@@ -59,9 +60,6 @@ zstyle ':completion:*' matcher-list \
 # Auto rehash for new binaries
 zstyle ':completion:*' rehash true
 
-# Key binds
-bindkey "jj" vi-cmd-mode
-bindkey -v '^?' backward-delete-char
 
 # remove duplicates from paths
 typeset -U path