diff --git a/gui/GraphEditorWidget.cpp b/gui/GraphEditorWidget.cpp
index bf4cc30..878fe95 100644
--- a/gui/GraphEditorWidget.cpp
+++ b/gui/GraphEditorWidget.cpp
@@ -1035,7 +1035,7 @@ void GraphEditorWidget::tryResolvePendingLinks() {
     }
 
     if (foundOut && foundIn) {
-      m_client->CreateLink(outPortId, inPortId, warppipe::LinkOptions{});
+      m_client->CreateLink(outPortId, inPortId, warppipe::LinkOptions{.linger = true});
     } else {
       remaining.push_back(pending);
     }
diff --git a/gui/PresetManager.cpp b/gui/PresetManager.cpp
index 4322839..ba51577 100644
--- a/gui/PresetManager.cpp
+++ b/gui/PresetManager.cpp
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ bool PresetManager::loadPreset(const QString &path, warppipe::Client *client,
     std::string inPort = route["in_port"].toString().toStdString();
 
     client->CreateLinkByName(outNode, outPort, inNode, inPort,
-                             warppipe::LinkOptions{});
+                             warppipe::LinkOptions{.linger = true});
   }
 
   model->refreshFromClient();
diff --git a/gui/WarpGraphModel.cpp b/gui/WarpGraphModel.cpp
index c32f039..a62a63a 100644
--- a/gui/WarpGraphModel.cpp
+++ b/gui/WarpGraphModel.cpp
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ void WarpGraphModel::addConnection(
     warppipe::PortId outPortId = outIt->second.outputPorts[outIdx].id;
     warppipe::PortId inPortId = inIt->second.inputPorts[inIdx].id;
 
-    auto result = m_client->CreateLink(outPortId, inPortId, warppipe::LinkOptions{});
+    auto result = m_client->CreateLink(outPortId, inPortId, warppipe::LinkOptions{.linger = true});
     if (!result.ok()) {
       return;
     }
diff --git a/src/warppipe.cpp b/src/warppipe.cpp
index a361b4a..3ddbb7c 100644
--- a/src/warppipe.cpp
+++ b/src/warppipe.cpp
@@ -343,11 +343,25 @@ struct Client::Impl {
   uint32_t policy_sync_seq = 0;
   bool policy_sync_pending = false;
   std::vector<std::unique_ptr<LinkProxy>> auto_link_proxies;
+  std::vector<std::unique_ptr<LinkProxy>> saved_link_proxies;
 
   pw_proxy* metadata_proxy = nullptr;
   spa_hook metadata_listener{};
   bool metadata_listener_attached = false;
   MetadataInfo defaults;
+  bool loading_config = false;
+
+  struct SavedLink {
+    std::string out_node;
+    std::string out_port;
+    std::string in_node;
+    std::string in_port;
+    bool operator==(const SavedLink& o) const {
+      return out_node == o.out_node && out_port == o.out_port &&
+             in_node == o.in_node && in_port == o.in_port;
+    }
+  };
+  std::vector<SavedLink> saved_links;
 
   Status ConnectLocked();
   void DisconnectLocked();
@@ -362,6 +376,8 @@ struct Client::Impl {
   void SchedulePolicySync();
   void ProcessPendingAutoLinks();
   void CreateAutoLinkAsync(uint32_t output_port, uint32_t input_port);
+  void ProcessSavedLinks();
+  void CreateSavedLinkAsync(uint32_t output_port, uint32_t input_port);
   void AutoSave();
   void SetupMasterMeter();
   void TeardownMasterMeter();
@@ -423,7 +439,7 @@ void Client::Impl::RegistryGlobal(void* data,
       info.is_input = true;
     }
     impl->ports[id] = info;
-    if (!impl->pending_auto_links.empty()) {
+    if (!impl->pending_auto_links.empty() || !impl->saved_links.empty()) {
       impl->SchedulePolicySync();
     }
     return;
@@ -530,6 +546,7 @@ void Client::Impl::CoreDone(void* data, uint32_t, int seq) {
       seq >= static_cast<int>(impl->policy_sync_seq)) {
     impl->policy_sync_pending = false;
     impl->ProcessPendingAutoLinks();
+    impl->ProcessSavedLinks();
   }
 }
 
@@ -806,8 +823,8 @@ void Client::Impl::DisconnectLocked() {
   }
   for (auto& entry : links) {
     LinkProxy* link = entry.second.get();
-    if (link && link->proxy) {
-      pw_proxy_destroy(link->proxy);
+    if (link) {
+      spa_hook_remove(&link->listener);
       link->proxy = nullptr;
     }
   }
@@ -820,12 +837,19 @@ void Client::Impl::DisconnectLocked() {
     }
   }
   for (auto& entry : auto_link_proxies) {
-    if (entry && entry->proxy) {
-      pw_proxy_destroy(entry->proxy);
+    if (entry) {
+      spa_hook_remove(&entry->listener);
       entry->proxy = nullptr;
     }
   }
   auto_link_proxies.clear();
+  for (auto& entry : saved_link_proxies) {
+    if (entry) {
+      spa_hook_remove(&entry->listener);
+      entry->proxy = nullptr;
+    }
+  }
+  saved_link_proxies.clear();
   if (metadata_listener_attached) {
     spa_hook_remove(&metadata_listener);
     metadata_listener_attached = false;
@@ -991,8 +1015,129 @@ void Client::Impl::CreateAutoLinkAsync(uint32_t output_port, uint32_t input_port
   auto_link_proxies.push_back(std::move(link_data));
 }
 
+void Client::Impl::ProcessSavedLinks() {
+  struct LinkSpec {
+    uint32_t output_port;
+    uint32_t input_port;
+    std::string label;
+  };
+  std::vector<LinkSpec> to_create;
+
+  {
+    std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(cache_mutex);
+    fprintf(stderr, "[warppipe] ProcessSavedLinks: %zu pending, %zu nodes, %zu ports\n",
+            saved_links.size(), nodes.size(), ports.size());
+    for (auto it = saved_links.begin(); it != saved_links.end();) {
+      uint32_t out_id = 0, in_id = 0;
+      for (const auto& port_entry : ports) {
+        const PortInfo& port = port_entry.second;
+        auto node_it = nodes.find(port.node.value);
+        if (node_it == nodes.end()) continue;
+        if (!port.is_input && node_it->second.name == it->out_node &&
+            port.name == it->out_port) {
+          out_id = port_entry.first;
+        }
+        if (port.is_input && node_it->second.name == it->in_node &&
+            port.name == it->in_port) {
+          in_id = port_entry.first;
+        }
+        if (out_id && in_id) break;
+      }
+      if (!out_id || !in_id) {
+        fprintf(stderr, "  deferred: %s:%s -> %s:%s (ports not found)\n",
+                it->out_node.c_str(), it->out_port.c_str(),
+                it->in_node.c_str(), it->in_port.c_str());
+        ++it;
+        continue;
+      }
+      bool exists = false;
+      for (const auto& link_entry : links) {
+        if (link_entry.second.output_port.value == out_id &&
+            link_entry.second.input_port.value == in_id) {
+          exists = true;
+          break;
+        }
+      }
+      if (exists) {
+        fprintf(stderr, "  already exists: %s:%s -> %s:%s\n",
+                it->out_node.c_str(), it->out_port.c_str(),
+                it->in_node.c_str(), it->in_port.c_str());
+        it = saved_links.erase(it);
+        continue;
+      }
+      std::string label = it->out_node + ":" + it->out_port + " -> " +
+                          it->in_node + ":" + it->in_port;
+      to_create.push_back({out_id, in_id, std::move(label)});
+      it = saved_links.erase(it);
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (to_create.empty()) return;
+
+  std::unordered_map<uint32_t, std::vector<uint32_t>> saved_port_map;
+  for (const auto& spec : to_create) {
+    saved_port_map[spec.output_port].push_back(spec.input_port);
+  }
+
+  std::vector<uint32_t> competing_link_ids;
+  {
+    std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(cache_mutex);
+    for (const auto& link_entry : links) {
+      auto it = saved_port_map.find(link_entry.second.output_port.value);
+      if (it == saved_port_map.end()) continue;
+      uint32_t in_port = link_entry.second.input_port.value;
+      bool is_saved = false;
+      for (uint32_t saved_in : it->second) {
+        if (saved_in == in_port) { is_saved = true; break; }
+      }
+      if (!is_saved) {
+        competing_link_ids.push_back(link_entry.first);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  for (uint32_t id : competing_link_ids) {
+    fprintf(stderr, "  removing competing link %u\n", id);
+    pw_registry_destroy(registry, id);
+  }
+
+  for (const auto& spec : to_create) {
+    fprintf(stderr, "  creating: %s (ports %u -> %u)\n",
+            spec.label.c_str(), spec.output_port, spec.input_port);
+    CreateSavedLinkAsync(spec.output_port, spec.input_port);
+  }
+}
+
+void Client::Impl::CreateSavedLinkAsync(uint32_t output_port,
+                                         uint32_t input_port) {
+  if (!core) return;
+
+  pw_properties* props = pw_properties_new(nullptr, nullptr);
+  if (!props) return;
+  pw_properties_setf(props, PW_KEY_LINK_OUTPUT_PORT, "%u", output_port);
+  pw_properties_setf(props, PW_KEY_LINK_INPUT_PORT, "%u", input_port);
+  pw_properties_set(props, PW_KEY_OBJECT_LINGER, "true");
+
+  pw_proxy* proxy = reinterpret_cast<pw_proxy*>(
+      pw_core_create_object(core, "link-factory",
+                            PW_TYPE_INTERFACE_Link,
+                            PW_VERSION_LINK,
+                            &props->dict, 0));
+  pw_properties_free(props);
+  if (!proxy) return;
+
+  auto link_data = std::make_unique<LinkProxy>();
+  link_data->proxy = proxy;
+  link_data->loop = thread_loop;
+  pw_proxy_add_listener(proxy, &link_data->listener, &kLinkProxyEvents,
+                        link_data.get());
+
+  std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(cache_mutex);
+  saved_link_proxies.push_back(std::move(link_data));
+}
+
 void Client::Impl::AutoSave() {
-  if (!options.config_path || options.config_path->empty()) {
+  if (!options.config_path || options.config_path->empty() || loading_config) {
     return;
   }
   nlohmann::json j;
@@ -1033,6 +1178,83 @@ void Client::Impl::AutoSave() {
   }
   j["route_rules"] = std::move(rules_array);
 
+  nlohmann::json links_array = nlohmann::json::array();
+  {
+    std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(cache_mutex);
+    std::vector<SavedLink> live;
+    for (const auto& entry : link_proxies) {
+      if (!entry.second) {
+        continue;
+      }
+      auto link_it = links.find(entry.first);
+      if (link_it == links.end()) {
+        continue;
+      }
+      const Link& link = link_it->second;
+      auto out_port_it = ports.find(link.output_port.value);
+      auto in_port_it = ports.find(link.input_port.value);
+      if (out_port_it == ports.end() || in_port_it == ports.end()) {
+        continue;
+      }
+      auto out_node_it = nodes.find(out_port_it->second.node.value);
+      auto in_node_it = nodes.find(in_port_it->second.node.value);
+      if (out_node_it == nodes.end() || in_node_it == nodes.end()) {
+        continue;
+      }
+      SavedLink sl{out_node_it->second.name, out_port_it->second.name,
+                   in_node_it->second.name, in_port_it->second.name};
+      live.push_back(sl);
+      nlohmann::json link_obj;
+      link_obj["out_node"] = sl.out_node;
+      link_obj["out_port"] = sl.out_port;
+      link_obj["in_node"] = sl.in_node;
+      link_obj["in_port"] = sl.in_port;
+      links_array.push_back(std::move(link_obj));
+    }
+    for (const auto& lp : saved_link_proxies) {
+      if (!lp || lp->id == SPA_ID_INVALID) continue;
+      auto link_it = links.find(lp->id);
+      if (link_it == links.end()) continue;
+      const Link& link = link_it->second;
+      auto out_port_it = ports.find(link.output_port.value);
+      auto in_port_it = ports.find(link.input_port.value);
+      if (out_port_it == ports.end() || in_port_it == ports.end()) continue;
+      auto out_node_it = nodes.find(out_port_it->second.node.value);
+      auto in_node_it = nodes.find(in_port_it->second.node.value);
+      if (out_node_it == nodes.end() || in_node_it == nodes.end()) continue;
+      SavedLink sl{out_node_it->second.name, out_port_it->second.name,
+                   in_node_it->second.name, in_port_it->second.name};
+      bool dup = false;
+      for (const auto& l : live) {
+        if (l == sl) { dup = true; break; }
+      }
+      if (!dup) {
+        live.push_back(sl);
+        nlohmann::json link_obj;
+        link_obj["out_node"] = sl.out_node;
+        link_obj["out_port"] = sl.out_port;
+        link_obj["in_node"] = sl.in_node;
+        link_obj["in_port"] = sl.in_port;
+        links_array.push_back(std::move(link_obj));
+      }
+    }
+    for (const auto& sl : saved_links) {
+      bool already = false;
+      for (const auto& l : live) {
+        if (l == sl) { already = true; break; }
+      }
+      if (!already) {
+        nlohmann::json link_obj;
+        link_obj["out_node"] = sl.out_node;
+        link_obj["out_port"] = sl.out_port;
+        link_obj["in_node"] = sl.in_node;
+        link_obj["in_port"] = sl.in_port;
+        links_array.push_back(std::move(link_obj));
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  j["links"] = std::move(links_array);
+
   std::string tmp_path = *options.config_path + ".tmp";
   std::ofstream file(tmp_path);
   if (!file.is_open()) {
@@ -1648,6 +1870,7 @@ Result<Link> Client::CreateLink(PortId output, PortId input, const LinkOptions&
   }
 
   pw_thread_loop_unlock(impl_->thread_loop);
+  impl_->AutoSave();
   return {Status::Ok(), link};
 }
 
@@ -1707,8 +1930,22 @@ Status Client::RemoveLink(LinkId link) {
   pw_thread_loop_lock(impl_->thread_loop);
 
   bool removed = false;
+  Impl::SavedLink removed_link;
   {
     std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(impl_->cache_mutex);
+    auto link_it = impl_->links.find(link.value);
+    if (link_it != impl_->links.end()) {
+      auto op = impl_->ports.find(link_it->second.output_port.value);
+      auto ip = impl_->ports.find(link_it->second.input_port.value);
+      if (op != impl_->ports.end() && ip != impl_->ports.end()) {
+        auto on = impl_->nodes.find(op->second.node.value);
+        auto in_ = impl_->nodes.find(ip->second.node.value);
+        if (on != impl_->nodes.end() && in_ != impl_->nodes.end()) {
+          removed_link = {on->second.name, op->second.name,
+                          in_->second.name, ip->second.name};
+        }
+      }
+    }
     auto it = impl_->link_proxies.find(link.value);
     if (it != impl_->link_proxies.end()) {
       if (it->second && it->second->proxy) {
@@ -1730,6 +1967,14 @@ Status Client::RemoveLink(LinkId link) {
   }
 
   pw_thread_loop_unlock(impl_->thread_loop);
+  if (removed) {
+    if (!removed_link.out_node.empty()) {
+      std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(impl_->cache_mutex);
+      auto& sl = impl_->saved_links;
+      sl.erase(std::remove(sl.begin(), sl.end(), removed_link), sl.end());
+    }
+    impl_->AutoSave();
+  }
   return removed ? Status::Ok() : Status::Error(StatusCode::kNotFound, "link not found");
 }
 
@@ -1886,8 +2131,85 @@ Status Client::SaveConfig(std::string_view path) {
     }
   }
 
+  nlohmann::json links_array = nlohmann::json::array();
+  {
+    std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(impl_->cache_mutex);
+    std::vector<Impl::SavedLink> live;
+    for (const auto& entry : impl_->link_proxies) {
+      if (!entry.second) {
+        continue;
+      }
+      auto link_it = impl_->links.find(entry.first);
+      if (link_it == impl_->links.end()) {
+        continue;
+      }
+      const Link& link = link_it->second;
+      auto out_port_it = impl_->ports.find(link.output_port.value);
+      auto in_port_it = impl_->ports.find(link.input_port.value);
+      if (out_port_it == impl_->ports.end() || in_port_it == impl_->ports.end()) {
+        continue;
+      }
+      auto out_node_it = impl_->nodes.find(out_port_it->second.node.value);
+      auto in_node_it = impl_->nodes.find(in_port_it->second.node.value);
+      if (out_node_it == impl_->nodes.end() || in_node_it == impl_->nodes.end()) {
+        continue;
+      }
+      Impl::SavedLink sl{out_node_it->second.name, out_port_it->second.name,
+                         in_node_it->second.name, in_port_it->second.name};
+      live.push_back(sl);
+      nlohmann::json link_obj;
+      link_obj["out_node"] = sl.out_node;
+      link_obj["out_port"] = sl.out_port;
+      link_obj["in_node"] = sl.in_node;
+      link_obj["in_port"] = sl.in_port;
+      links_array.push_back(std::move(link_obj));
+    }
+    for (const auto& lp : impl_->saved_link_proxies) {
+      if (!lp || lp->id == SPA_ID_INVALID) continue;
+      auto link_it = impl_->links.find(lp->id);
+      if (link_it == impl_->links.end()) continue;
+      const Link& link = link_it->second;
+      auto out_port_it = impl_->ports.find(link.output_port.value);
+      auto in_port_it = impl_->ports.find(link.input_port.value);
+      if (out_port_it == impl_->ports.end() || in_port_it == impl_->ports.end()) continue;
+      auto out_node_it = impl_->nodes.find(out_port_it->second.node.value);
+      auto in_node_it = impl_->nodes.find(in_port_it->second.node.value);
+      if (out_node_it == impl_->nodes.end() || in_node_it == impl_->nodes.end()) continue;
+      Impl::SavedLink sl{out_node_it->second.name, out_port_it->second.name,
+                         in_node_it->second.name, in_port_it->second.name};
+      bool dup = false;
+      for (const auto& l : live) {
+        if (l == sl) { dup = true; break; }
+      }
+      if (!dup) {
+        live.push_back(sl);
+        nlohmann::json link_obj;
+        link_obj["out_node"] = sl.out_node;
+        link_obj["out_port"] = sl.out_port;
+        link_obj["in_node"] = sl.in_node;
+        link_obj["in_port"] = sl.in_port;
+        links_array.push_back(std::move(link_obj));
+      }
+    }
+    for (const auto& sl : impl_->saved_links) {
+      bool already = false;
+      for (const auto& l : live) {
+        if (l == sl) { already = true; break; }
+      }
+      if (!already) {
+        nlohmann::json link_obj;
+        link_obj["out_node"] = sl.out_node;
+        link_obj["out_port"] = sl.out_port;
+        link_obj["in_node"] = sl.in_node;
+        link_obj["in_port"] = sl.in_port;
+        links_array.push_back(std::move(link_obj));
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
   j["virtual_nodes"] = std::move(nodes_array);
   j["route_rules"] = std::move(rules_array);
+  j["links"] = std::move(links_array);
 
   std::string tmp_path = std::string(path) + ".tmp";
   std::ofstream file(tmp_path);
@@ -1928,6 +2250,8 @@ Status Client::LoadConfig(std::string_view path) {
     return Status::Error(StatusCode::kInvalidArgument, "config missing version");
   }
 
+  impl_->loading_config = true;
+
   if (j.contains("route_rules") && j["route_rules"].is_array()) {
     for (const auto& rule_obj : j["route_rules"]) {
       try {
@@ -1981,6 +2305,35 @@ Status Client::LoadConfig(std::string_view path) {
     }
   }
 
+  if (j.contains("links") && j["links"].is_array()) {
+    {
+      std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(impl_->cache_mutex);
+      for (const auto& link_obj : j["links"]) {
+        try {
+          std::string out_node = link_obj.value("out_node", "");
+          std::string out_port = link_obj.value("out_port", "");
+          std::string in_node = link_obj.value("in_node", "");
+          std::string in_port = link_obj.value("in_port", "");
+          if (out_node.empty() || out_port.empty() ||
+              in_node.empty() || in_port.empty()) {
+            continue;
+          }
+          impl_->saved_links.push_back({out_node, out_port, in_node, in_port});
+        } catch (...) {
+          continue;
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+    if (conn_status.ok()) {
+      pw_thread_loop_lock(impl_->thread_loop);
+      impl_->SchedulePolicySync();
+      pw_thread_loop_unlock(impl_->thread_loop);
+    }
+  }
+
+  impl_->loading_config = false;
+  impl_->AutoSave();
   return Status::Ok();
 }