diff --git a/src/main/mesh.js b/src/main/mesh.js
index 067abd5e..5b864d6b 100644
--- a/src/main/mesh.js
+++ b/src/main/mesh.js
@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@ function init() {
     db.admin.put("init", Date.now());
     db.admin.get("uses").then(v => db.admin.put("uses", (v||0) + 1));
 
+    // reload preferences
+    api.prefs.restore();
+
     // setup default workspace
     space.useDefaultKeys(false);
     space.sky.set({
diff --git a/src/mesh/api.js b/src/mesh/api.js
index 83041cb6..105bd12f 100644
--- a/src/mesh/api.js
+++ b/src/mesh/api.js
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ gapp.register("mesh.api", [
     "moto.client",  // dep: moto.client
     "moto.broker",  // dep: moto.broker
     "moto.space",   // dep: moto.space
+    "data.index",   // dep: data.index
     "mesh.tool",    // dep: mesh.tool
     "add.array",    // dep: add.array
 ]);
@@ -277,6 +278,28 @@ let tool = {
     }
 };
 
+// persisted preference map
+let prefs = {
+    map: {},
+
+    put(key, val) {
+        prefs.map[key] = val;
+        prefs.update();
+    },
+
+    // persist to data store
+    update() {
+        mesh.db.admin.put("prefs", prefs.map);
+    },
+
+    // reload from data store
+    restore() {
+        mesh.db.admin.get("prefs").then(data => {
+            if (data) prefs.map = data;
+        });
+    }
+};
+
 // api is augmented in mesh.build (log, modal, download)
 let api = mesh.api = {
     help() {
@@ -328,6 +351,8 @@ let api = mesh.api = {
 
     tool,
 
+    prefs,
+
     objects() {
         // return model objects suitable for finding ray intersections
         return group.list().map(o => o.models).flat().map(o => o.mesh);
@@ -476,4 +501,7 @@ broker.wrapObject(selection, 'selection');
 broker.wrapObject(model, 'model');
 broker.wrapObject(group, 'group');
 
+// optimize db writes by merging updates
+prefs.update = util.deferWrap(prefs.update);
+
 })();
diff --git a/src/mesh/build.js b/src/mesh/build.js
index 0bb98b71..d7ebf0a0 100644
--- a/src/mesh/build.js
+++ b/src/mesh/build.js
@@ -355,14 +355,14 @@ function ui_build() {
             s.onclick = () => {
                 s.style.display = 'none';
                 d.style.display = 'flex';
-                prefs[label] = 1;
+                api.prefs.put(label, 1);
             };
             h.onclick = () => {
                 d.style.display = 'none';
                 s.style.display = 'flex';
-                prefs[label] = 2;
+                api.prefs.put(label, 2);
             };
-            if (prefs[label] === 1) {
+            if (api.prefs.map[label] === 1) {
                 s.onclick();
             } else {
                 h.onclick();
@@ -374,9 +374,6 @@ function ui_build() {
         }
     }
 
-    // temp store of ui prefs (hide/show)
-    let prefs = {};
-
     // listen for api calls
     // create a deferred wrapper to merge multiple rapid events
     let defer_all = util.deferWrap(update_all);
diff --git a/src/mesh/model.js b/src/mesh/model.js
index 75d2d121..91eac8df 100644
--- a/src/mesh/model.js
+++ b/src/mesh/model.js
@@ -63,7 +63,6 @@ mesh.model = class MeshModel extends mesh.object {
 
         this.file = file || 'unnamed';
         this.load(mesh || vertices, indices, normals);
-
         // persist in db so it can be restored on page load
         mapp.db.space.put(this.id, { file, mesh });
     }