diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 8c6b37f..d476ae7 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ Procedure when bumping the version number:
 
 ### Added
 - `help-config` CLI command
+- `measure_widths` config option
 
 ### Changed
 - Simplified flake dependencies
diff --git a/cove-config/src/lib.rs b/cove-config/src/lib.rs
index 04b75bb..1f17988 100644
--- a/cove-config/src/lib.rs
+++ b/cove-config/src/lib.rs
@@ -90,6 +90,18 @@ pub struct Config {
     #[document(default = "`false`")]
     pub ephemeral: bool,
 
+    /// Whether to measure the width of characters as displayed by the terminal
+    /// emulator instead of guessing the width.
+    ///
+    /// Enabling this makes rendering a bit slower but more accurate. The screen
+    /// might also flash when encountering new characters (or, more accurately,
+    /// graphemes).
+    ///
+    /// See also the `--measure-graphemes` command line option.
+    #[serde(default)]
+    #[document(default = "`false`")]
+    pub measure_widths: bool,
+
     /// Whether to start in offline mode.
     ///
     /// In offline mode, cove won't automatically join rooms marked via the
diff --git a/cove/src/main.rs b/cove/src/main.rs
index 72526b5..0c99ee4 100644
--- a/cove/src/main.rs
+++ b/cove/src/main.rs
@@ -120,6 +120,7 @@ fn update_config_with_args(config: &mut Config, args: &Args) {
     }
 
     config.ephemeral |= args.ephemeral;
+    config.measure_widths |= args.measure_widths;
     config.offline |= args.offline;
 }
 
@@ -150,7 +151,7 @@ async fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     let config = Box::leak(Box::new(config));
 
     match args.command.unwrap_or_default() {
-        Command::Run => run(logger, logger_rx, config, &dirs, args.measure_widths).await?,
+        Command::Run => run(logger, logger_rx, config, &dirs).await?,
         Command::Export(args) => export(config, &dirs, args).await?,
         Command::Gc => gc(config, &dirs).await?,
         Command::ClearCookies => clear_cookies(config, &dirs).await?,
@@ -171,7 +172,6 @@ async fn run(
     logger_rx: mpsc::UnboundedReceiver<()>,
     config: &'static Config,
     dirs: &ProjectDirs,
-    measure_widths: bool,
 ) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     info!(
         "Welcome to {} {}",
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ async fn run(
     let vault = open_vault(config, dirs)?;
 
     let mut terminal = Terminal::new()?;
-    terminal.set_measuring(measure_widths);
+    terminal.set_measuring(config.measure_widths);
     Ui::run(config, &mut terminal, vault.clone(), logger, logger_rx).await?;
     drop(terminal);