diff --git a/emacs/data.el b/emacs/data.el
index be313ef..13ea341 100644
--- a/emacs/data.el
+++ b/emacs/data.el
@@ -53,4 +53,7 @@
           ((eq selection 'screen-line) "ʌ")
           ((eq selection 'block)       "Λ"))))
 
+(defun agw-after-local-vars ()
+  (unless indent-tabs-mode (smart-tabs-mode 0)))
+
 ;; EOF
diff --git a/emacs/init.el b/emacs/init.el
index 01f7922..24d73b0 100644
--- a/emacs/init.el
+++ b/emacs/init.el
@@ -52,6 +52,9 @@
 (add-hook 'prog-mode-hook #'subword-mode)
 (add-hook 'prog-mode-hook #'agw-prog-mode)
 
+;; `hack-local-variables'
+(add-hook 'hack-local-variables-hook #'agw-after-local-vars)
+
 ;; macros
 (add-hook 'emacs-lisp-mode-hook #'agw-fp-mode)
 (add-hook 'lisp-mode-hook       #'agw-fp-mode)