diff --git a/packages/packages.sh b/packages/packages.sh
index c58ea96..401f888 100755
--- a/packages/packages.sh
+++ b/packages/packages.sh
@@ -197,6 +197,10 @@ set_git_config_if_unset user.name "Carl Kittelberger"
 #set_git_config_if_unset user.signingkey B5108C5A158A6608AD3361DA1573F6D8EFE4D0CF
 set_git_config_if_unset user.signingkey 04ADEF85EA6AEC6F75941E84468BBEEBB9EC6AEA
 
+# set up git-cola
+set_git_config_if_unset cola.spellcheck false
+set_git_config_if_unset cola.startupmode folder
+
 # set up kdiff3 as mergetool if it is installed
 clear_git_config_if_pointing_nowhere merge.tool
 for bin in kdiff3 meld p4merge vimdiff; do