diff --git a/thoom-emacs/modules/thoom-tweaks.el b/thoom-emacs/modules/thoom-tweaks.el
index 43bc314..7da9eaf 100644
--- a/thoom-emacs/modules/thoom-tweaks.el
+++ b/thoom-emacs/modules/thoom-tweaks.el
@@ -122,7 +122,8 @@
 (add-hook 'before-save-hook 'my-whitespace-cleanup)
 
 ;; clean up backup file spam
-(setq backup-directory-alist `(("." . "~/.saves"))
+(setq backup-directory-alist `(("." . "~/.saves")
+                               ("/etc/\\.*" . nil))
       delete-old-versions t
       kept-new-versions 4
       kept-old-versions 2