diff --git a/home/progs/niri.nix b/home/progs/niri.nix
index f34f2e2..f9e7378 100644
--- a/home/progs/niri.nix
+++ b/home/progs/niri.nix
@@ -115,8 +115,12 @@ in
 
         "Mod+O".action = toggle-overview;
 
-        # open a terminal
-        "Mod+T".action = spawn config.home.sessionVariables.TERMINAL;
+        # open a terminal — pass --working-directory=home so the gtk-single-instance
+        # daemon doesn't keep handing back whatever cwd the focused window has.
+        "Mod+T".action = spawn [
+          config.home.sessionVariables.TERMINAL
+          "--working-directory=home"
+        ];
 
         # lock the screen
         "Mod+X".action = spawn (lib.getExe pkgs.swaylock);