diff --git a/modules/services/colima.nix b/modules/services/colima.nix
index 1f889d8dd..2bbdf2c46 100644
--- a/modules/services/colima.nix
+++ b/modules/services/colima.nix
@@ -271,8 +271,8 @@ in
               "start"
               name
               "-f"
-              "--activate=${if profile.isActive then "true" else "false"}"
-              "--save-config=false"
+              "--activate=${lib.boolToString profile.isActive}"
+              "--save-config=${lib.boolToString (profile.settings == { })}"
             ];
             KeepAlive = {
               SuccessfulExit = true;
@@ -319,8 +319,8 @@ in
             ExecStart = ''
               ${lib.getExe cfg.package} start ${name} \
                 -f \
-                --activate=${if profile.isActive then "true" else "false"} \
-                --save-config=false
+                --activate=${lib.boolToString profile.isActive} \
+                --save-config=${lib.boolToString (profile.settings == { })}
             '';
             Restart = "always";
             RestartSec = 2;
diff --git a/tests/modules/services/colima/darwin/colima-docker-cli-expected.plist b/tests/modules/services/colima/darwin/colima-docker-cli-expected.plist
index 20cc93c7d..6cc241d69 100644
--- a/tests/modules/services/colima/darwin/colima-docker-cli-expected.plist
+++ b/tests/modules/services/colima/darwin/colima-docker-cli-expected.plist
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
 	<array>
 		<string>/bin/sh</string>
 		<string>-c</string>
-		<string>/bin/wait4path /nix/store &amp;&amp; exec @colima@/bin/colima start default -f &apos;--activate=true&apos; &apos;--save-config=false&apos;</string>
+		<string>/bin/wait4path /nix/store &amp;&amp; exec @colima@/bin/colima start default -f &apos;--activate=true&apos; &apos;--save-config=true&apos;</string>
 	</array>
 	<key>RunAtLoad</key>
 	<true/>
diff --git a/tests/modules/services/colima/darwin/expected-agent.plist b/tests/modules/services/colima/darwin/expected-agent.plist
index 98ce5dbe8..15a64c6aa 100644
--- a/tests/modules/services/colima/darwin/expected-agent.plist
+++ b/tests/modules/services/colima/darwin/expected-agent.plist
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 	<array>
 		<string>/bin/sh</string>
 		<string>-c</string>
-		<string>/bin/wait4path /nix/store &amp;&amp; exec @colima@/bin/colima start default -f &apos;--activate=true&apos; &apos;--save-config=false&apos;</string>
+		<string>/bin/wait4path /nix/store &amp;&amp; exec @colima@/bin/colima start default -f &apos;--activate=true&apos; &apos;--save-config=true&apos;</string>
 	</array>
 	<key>RunAtLoad</key>
 	<true/>
diff --git a/tests/modules/services/colima/linux/colima-docker-cli-expected.service b/tests/modules/services/colima/linux/colima-docker-cli-expected.service
index 37b251146..9289ebdc4 100644
--- a/tests/modules/services/colima/linux/colima-docker-cli-expected.service
+++ b/tests/modules/services/colima/linux/colima-docker-cli-expected.service
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ Environment=DOCKER_CONFIG=/home/hm-user/.config/docker
 ExecStart=@colima@/bin/colima start default \
   -f \
   --activate=true \
-  --save-config=false
+  --save-config=true
 
 Restart=always
 RestartSec=2
diff --git a/tests/modules/services/colima/linux/expected-service.service b/tests/modules/services/colima/linux/expected-service.service
index 7bd0e6d13..9ee79b685 100644
--- a/tests/modules/services/colima/linux/expected-service.service
+++ b/tests/modules/services/colima/linux/expected-service.service
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ Environment=PATH=@colima@/bin:@perl@/bin:@docker@/bin:@openssh@/bin:@coreutils@/
 ExecStart=@colima@/bin/colima start default \
   -f \
   --activate=true \
-  --save-config=false
+  --save-config=true
 
 Restart=always
 RestartSec=2