diff --git a/variants/esp32/esp32.ini b/variants/esp32/esp32.ini
index c7935df50..9a2efd3c4 100644
--- a/variants/esp32/esp32.ini
+++ b/variants/esp32/esp32.ini
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ build_flags =
   -DMYNEWT_VAL_BLE_HS_LOG_LVL=LOG_LEVEL_CRITICAL
   -DAXP_DEBUG_PORT=Serial
   -DCONFIG_BT_NIMBLE_ENABLED
+  -DCONFIG_BT_NIMBLE_NVS_PERSIST=1
   -DCONFIG_BT_NIMBLE_MAX_BONDS=6 # default is 3
   -DCONFIG_NIMBLE_CPP_LOG_LEVEL=2
   -DCONFIG_BT_NIMBLE_MAX_CCCDS=20