diff --git a/helix-core/src/auto_pairs.rs b/helix-core/src/auto_pairs.rs
index 853290404..1646f1249 100644
--- a/helix-core/src/auto_pairs.rs
+++ b/helix-core/src/auto_pairs.rs
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ pub const DEFAULT_PAIRS: &[(char, char)] = &[
     ('"', '"'),
     ('`', '`'),
 ];
-
 /// The type that represents the collection of auto pairs,
 /// keyed by both opener and closer.
 #[derive(Debug, Clone)]
@@ -120,7 +119,13 @@ impl Default for AutoPairs {
 //   middle of triple quotes, and more exotic pairs like Jinja's {% %}
 
 #[must_use]
-pub fn hook(doc: &Rope, selection: &Selection, ch: char, pairs: &AutoPairs) -> Option<Transaction> {
+pub fn hook(
+    doc: &Rope,
+    selection: &Selection,
+    ch: char,
+    pairs: &AutoPairs,
+    auto_pairs_overtype: bool,
+) -> Option<Transaction> {
     log::trace!("autopairs hook selection: {:#?}", selection);
 
     if let Some(pair) = pairs.get(ch) {
@@ -130,7 +135,7 @@ pub fn hook(doc: &Rope, selection: &Selection, ch: char, pairs: &AutoPairs) -> O
             return Some(handle_open(doc, selection, pair));
         } else if pair.close == ch {
             // && char_at pos == close
-            return Some(handle_close(doc, selection, pair));
+            return Some(handle_close(doc, selection, pair, auto_pairs_overtype));
         }
     }
 
@@ -301,7 +306,12 @@ fn handle_open(doc: &Rope, selection: &Selection, pair: &Pair) -> Transaction {
     t
 }
 
-fn handle_close(doc: &Rope, selection: &Selection, pair: &Pair) -> Transaction {
+fn handle_close(
+    doc: &Rope,
+    selection: &Selection,
+    pair: &Pair,
+    auto_pairs_overtype: bool,
+) -> Transaction {
     let mut end_ranges = SmallVec::with_capacity(selection.len());
     let mut offs = 0;
 
@@ -309,8 +319,9 @@ fn handle_close(doc: &Rope, selection: &Selection, pair: &Pair) -> Transaction {
         let cursor = start_range.cursor(doc.slice(..));
         let next_char = doc.get_char(cursor);
         let mut len_inserted = 0;
+        // let len_inserted = 1;
 
-        let change = if next_char == Some(pair.close) {
+        let change = if auto_pairs_overtype && next_char == Some(pair.close) {
             // return transaction that moves past close
             (cursor, cursor, None) // no-op
         } else {
diff --git a/helix-term/src/commands.rs b/helix-term/src/commands.rs
index b1c29378d..ab406004a 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/commands.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/commands.rs
@@ -3847,10 +3847,11 @@ pub mod insert {
         let text = doc.text();
         let selection = doc.selection(view.id);
         let auto_pairs = doc.auto_pairs(cx.editor);
+        let auto_pairs_overtype = cx.editor.config().auto_pairs_overtype;
 
         let transaction = auto_pairs
             .as_ref()
-            .and_then(|ap| auto_pairs::hook(text, selection, c, ap))
+            .and_then(|ap| auto_pairs::hook(text, selection, c, ap, auto_pairs_overtype))
             .or_else(|| insert(text, selection, c));
 
         let (view, doc) = current!(cx.editor);
diff --git a/helix-view/src/editor.rs b/helix-view/src/editor.rs
index 26dea3a21..50b6b0361 100644
--- a/helix-view/src/editor.rs
+++ b/helix-view/src/editor.rs
@@ -265,6 +265,8 @@ pub struct Config {
     /// etc. Optionally, this can be a list of 2-tuples to specify a
     /// global list of characters to pair. Defaults to true.
     pub auto_pairs: AutoPairConfig,
+    /// Automatic overtype closing of pairs. Defaults to true.
+    pub auto_pairs_overtype: bool,
     /// Automatic auto-completion, automatically pop up without user trigger. Defaults to true.
     pub auto_completion: bool,
     /// Automatic formatting on save. Defaults to true.
@@ -946,6 +948,7 @@ impl Default for Config {
             gutters: GutterConfig::default(),
             middle_click_paste: true,
             auto_pairs: AutoPairConfig::default(),
+            auto_pairs_overtype: true,
             auto_completion: true,
             auto_format: true,
             auto_save: AutoSave::default(),