diff --git a/helix-core/src/syntax.rs b/helix-core/src/syntax.rs
index 3b2d56d12..3fc91efc8 100644
--- a/helix-core/src/syntax.rs
+++ b/helix-core/src/syntax.rs
@@ -216,14 +216,7 @@ impl FromStr for AutoPairConfig {
     // only do bool parsing for runtime setting
     fn from_str(s: &str) -> Result<Self, Self::Err> {
         let enable: bool = s.parse()?;
-
-        let enable = if enable {
-            AutoPairConfig::Enable(true)
-        } else {
-            AutoPairConfig::Enable(false)
-        };
-
-        Ok(enable)
+        Ok(AutoPairConfig::Enable(enable))
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/helix-term/src/commands/typed.rs b/helix-term/src/commands/typed.rs
index 7866ff9d3..0801b236e 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/commands/typed.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/commands/typed.rs
@@ -872,34 +872,32 @@ pub(super) fn goto_line_number(
     Ok(())
 }
 
+/// Change config at runtime. Access nested values by dot syntax, for
+/// example to disable smart case search, use `:set search.smart-case false`.
 fn setting(
     cx: &mut compositor::Context,
     args: &[Cow<str>],
     _event: PromptEvent,
 ) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
-    let runtime_config = &mut cx.editor.config;
-
     if args.len() != 2 {
         anyhow::bail!("Bad arguments. Usage: `:set key field`");
     }
-
     let (key, arg) = (&args[0].to_lowercase(), &args[1]);
 
-    match key.as_ref() {
-        "scrolloff" => runtime_config.scrolloff = arg.parse()?,
-        "scroll-lines" => runtime_config.scroll_lines = arg.parse()?,
-        "mouse" => runtime_config.mouse = arg.parse()?,
-        "line-number" => runtime_config.line_number = arg.parse()?,
-        "middle-click_paste" => runtime_config.middle_click_paste = arg.parse()?,
-        "auto-pairs" => runtime_config.auto_pairs = arg.parse()?,
-        "auto-completion" => runtime_config.auto_completion = arg.parse()?,
-        "completion-trigger-len" => runtime_config.completion_trigger_len = arg.parse()?,
-        "auto-info" => runtime_config.auto_info = arg.parse()?,
-        "true-color" => runtime_config.true_color = arg.parse()?,
-        "search.smart-case" => runtime_config.search.smart_case = arg.parse()?,
-        "search.wrap-around" => runtime_config.search.wrap_around = arg.parse()?,
-        _ => anyhow::bail!("Unknown key `{}`.", args[0]),
-    }
+    let key_error = || anyhow::anyhow!("Unknown key `{key}`");
+    let field_error = |_| anyhow::anyhow!("Could not parse field `{arg}`");
+
+    let mut config = serde_json::to_value(&cx.editor.config).unwrap();
+    let pointer = format!("/{}", key.replace('.', "/"));
+    let value = config.pointer_mut(&pointer).ok_or_else(key_error)?;
+
+    *value = if value.is_string() {
+        // JSON strings require quotes, so we can't .parse() directly
+        serde_json::Value::String(arg.to_string())
+    } else {
+        arg.parse().map_err(field_error)?
+    };
+    cx.editor.config = serde_json::from_value(config).map_err(field_error)?;
 
     Ok(())
 }
diff --git a/helix-view/src/editor.rs b/helix-view/src/editor.rs
index 0eb613087..adf0cdf33 100644
--- a/helix-view/src/editor.rs
+++ b/helix-view/src/editor.rs
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ use helix_core::{
 use helix_core::{Position, Selection};
 use helix_dap as dap;
 
-use serde::{ser::SerializeMap, Deserialize, Deserializer, Serialize};
+use serde::{ser::SerializeMap, Deserialize, Deserializer, Serialize, Serializer};
 
 fn deserialize_duration_millis<'de, D>(deserializer: D) -> Result<Duration, D::Error>
 where
@@ -48,6 +48,18 @@ where
     Ok(Duration::from_millis(millis))
 }
 
+fn serialize_duration_millis<S>(duration: &Duration, serializer: S) -> Result<S::Ok, S::Error>
+where
+    S: Serializer,
+{
+    serializer.serialize_u64(
+        duration
+            .as_millis()
+            .try_into()
+            .map_err(|_| serde::ser::Error::custom("duration value overflowed u64"))?,
+    )
+}
+
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 #[serde(rename_all = "kebab-case", default, deny_unknown_fields)]
 pub struct FilePickerConfig {
@@ -109,8 +121,12 @@ pub struct Config {
     pub auto_pairs: AutoPairConfig,
     /// Automatic auto-completion, automatically pop up without user trigger. Defaults to true.
     pub auto_completion: bool,
-    /// Time in milliseconds since last keypress before idle timers trigger. Used for autocompletion, set to 0 for instant. Defaults to 400ms.
-    #[serde(skip_serializing, deserialize_with = "deserialize_duration_millis")]
+    /// Time in milliseconds since last keypress before idle timers trigger.
+    /// Used for autocompletion, set to 0 for instant. Defaults to 400ms.
+    #[serde(
+        serialize_with = "serialize_duration_millis",
+        deserialize_with = "deserialize_duration_millis"
+    )]
     pub idle_timeout: Duration,
     pub completion_trigger_len: u8,
     /// Whether to display infoboxes. Defaults to true.