diff --git a/book/src/languages.md b/book/src/languages.md
index b446e4de0889..8c27785e2197 100644
--- a/book/src/languages.md
+++ b/book/src/languages.md
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ Use `format` field to pass extra formatting options to [Document Formatting Requ
 name = "typescript"
 auto-format = true
 # pass format options according to https://github.com/typescript-language-server/typescript-language-server#workspacedidchangeconfiguration omitting the "[language].format." prefix.
-format = { "semicolons" = "insert", "insertSpaceBeforeFunctionParenthesis" = true }
+config = { format = { "semicolons" = "insert", "insertSpaceBeforeFunctionParenthesis" = true } }
 ```
 
 ## Tree-sitter grammars
diff --git a/helix-core/src/syntax.rs b/helix-core/src/syntax.rs
index 4c0149ea11df..ca497b648229 100644
--- a/helix-core/src/syntax.rs
+++ b/helix-core/src/syntax.rs
@@ -78,8 +78,6 @@ pub struct LanguageConfiguration {
 
     #[serde(default)]
     pub auto_format: bool,
-    #[serde(default, skip_serializing, deserialize_with = "deserialize_lsp_config")]
-    pub format: Option<serde_json::Value>,
 
     #[serde(default)]
     pub diagnostic_severity: Severity,
diff --git a/helix-lsp/src/client.rs b/helix-lsp/src/client.rs
index 08201b3f4268..55143de5991e 100644
--- a/helix-lsp/src/client.rs
+++ b/helix-lsp/src/client.rs
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ use helix_core::{find_root, ChangeSet, Rope};
 use jsonrpc_core as jsonrpc;
 use lsp_types as lsp;
 use serde_json::Value;
+use std::collections::HashMap;
 use std::future::Future;
 use std::process::Stdio;
 use std::sync::{
@@ -693,9 +694,28 @@ impl Client {
         };
         // TODO: return err::unavailable so we can fall back to tree sitter formatting
 
+        // merge FormattingOptions with values from lsp config
+        let mut merged_options = options.clone();
+        if let Some(format) = self
+            .config
+            .as_ref()
+            .and_then(|cfg| cfg.get("format"))
+            .and_then(|fmt| fmt.as_object())
+        {
+            for (key, value) in format {
+                // upstream properties take precedence
+                if merged_options.properties.get(key).is_some() {
+                    continue;
+                }
+                if let Ok(prop) = serde_json::from_value(value.clone()) {
+                    merged_options.properties.insert(key.to_owned(), prop);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
         let params = lsp::DocumentFormattingParams {
             text_document,
-            options,
+            options: merged_options,
             work_done_progress_params: lsp::WorkDoneProgressParams { work_done_token },
         };
 
diff --git a/helix-view/src/document.rs b/helix-view/src/document.rs
index 1c3952c56000..2c4b5de96b95 100644
--- a/helix-view/src/document.rs
+++ b/helix-view/src/document.rs
@@ -411,24 +411,11 @@ impl Document {
         let text = self.text.clone();
         let offset_encoding = language_server.offset_encoding();
 
-        let mut properties = HashMap::new();
-        if let Some(fmt) = self
-            .language_config()
-            .and_then(|cfg| cfg.format.as_ref().and_then(|c| c.as_object()))
-        {
-            for (key, value) in fmt.iter() {
-                if let Ok(prop) = serde_json::from_value(value.clone()) {
-                    properties.insert(key.to_owned(), prop);
-                }
-            }
-        }
-
         let request = language_server.text_document_formatting(
             self.identifier(),
             lsp::FormattingOptions {
                 tab_size: self.tab_width() as u32,
                 insert_spaces: matches!(self.indent_style, IndentStyle::Spaces(_)),
-                properties,
                 ..Default::default()
             },
             None,