diff --git a/gui.py b/gui.py
index b7878aa..1fe093b 100644
--- a/gui.py
+++ b/gui.py
@@ -1204,6 +1204,7 @@ class SettingsPanel:
             self._priority_list.insert("end", game_name)
             self._priority_list.see("end")
             self._settings.priority.append(game_name)
+            self._settings.alter()
         else:
             # already there, set the selection on it
             self._priority_list.selection_set(existing_idx)
@@ -1230,6 +1231,7 @@ class SettingsPanel:
         self._priority_list.see(swap_idx)
         p = self._settings.priority
         p[idx], p[swap_idx] = p[swap_idx], p[idx]
+        self._settings.alter()
 
     def priority_delete(self) -> None:
         idx: int | None = self._priority_idx()
@@ -1237,6 +1239,7 @@ class SettingsPanel:
             return
         self._priority_list.delete(idx)
         del self._settings.priority[idx]
+        self._settings.alter()
 
     def priority_only(self) -> None:
         self._settings.priority_only = bool(self._vars["priority_only"].get())
@@ -1250,6 +1253,7 @@ class SettingsPanel:
         exclude = self._settings.exclude
         if game_name not in exclude:
             exclude.add(game_name)
+            self._settings.alter()
             # insert it alphabetically
             for i, item in enumerate(self._exclude_list.get(0, "end")):
                 if game_name < item:
@@ -1279,6 +1283,7 @@ class SettingsPanel:
         item: str = self._exclude_list.get(idx)
         if item in self._settings.exclude:
             self._settings.exclude.discard(item)
+            self._settings.alter()
             self._exclude_list.delete(idx)
 
 
diff --git a/main.py b/main.py
index b10aee8..adf17f9 100644
--- a/main.py
+++ b/main.py
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ loop.run_until_complete(client.gui.wait_until_closed())
 # save settings
 # NOTE: we have to do it after wait_until_closed,
 # because the user can alter settings between shutdown and closing the window
-client.settings.save()
+client.settings.save(force=True)
 client.gui.stop()
 client.gui.close_window()
 loop.run_until_complete(loop.shutdown_asyncgens())
diff --git a/settings.py b/settings.py
index 60b2988..0a433cf 100644
--- a/settings.py
+++ b/settings.py
@@ -73,6 +73,9 @@ class Settings:
     def __delattr__(self, name: str, /) -> None:
         raise RuntimeError("settings can't be deleted")
 
-    def save(self) -> None:
-        if self._altered:
+    def alter(self) -> None:
+        self._altered = True
+
+    def save(self, *, force: bool = False) -> None:
+        if self._altered or force:
             json_save(SETTINGS_PATH, self._settings)