diff --git a/modules/zellij/config.kdl b/modules/zellij/config.kdl
index f19dbe8..1b3e093 100644
--- a/modules/zellij/config.kdl
+++ b/modules/zellij/config.kdl
@@ -314,6 +314,7 @@ load_plugins {
  
 default_mode "locked"
 default_shell "fish"
+default_layout "compact"
 pane_frames true
 scroll_buffer_size 100000
 copy_on_select true