diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 193f67f..5e9a58e 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -130,6 +130,7 @@ enum Msg {
     NewWorkspace,
     CompConfig(Box<CosmicCompConfig>),
     Config(CosmicWorkspacesConfig),
+    BgConfig(cosmic_bg_config::state::State),
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
@@ -176,27 +177,11 @@ enum DragSurface {
     },
 }
 
+#[derive(Default)]
 struct Conf {
     workspace_config: cosmic_comp_config::workspace::WorkspaceConfig,
     config: CosmicWorkspacesConfig,
-    bg_config: Option<cosmic_config::Config>,
-}
-
-impl Default for Conf {
-    fn default() -> Self {
-        let bg_config = cosmic::cosmic_config::Config::new_state(
-            cosmic_bg_config::NAME,
-            cosmic_bg_config::state::State::version(),
-        );
-        if let Err(err) = &bg_config {
-            log::error!("failed to load bg config: {}", err);
-        }
-        Self {
-            workspace_config: cosmic_comp_config::workspace::WorkspaceConfig::default(),
-            config: CosmicWorkspacesConfig::default(),
-            bg_config: bg_config.ok(),
-        }
-    }
+    bg: cosmic_bg_config::state::State,
 }
 
 #[derive(Default)]
@@ -212,7 +197,6 @@ struct App {
     conf: Conf,
     core: cosmic::app::Core,
     drop_target: Option<(ZcosmicWorkspaceHandleV1, wl_output::WlOutput)>,
-    bg_state: Option<cosmic_bg_config::state::State>,
 }
 
 impl App {
@@ -294,18 +278,6 @@ impl App {
             );
             self.update_capture_filter();
 
-            if let Some(config) = &self.conf.bg_config {
-                match cosmic_bg_config::state::State::get_entry(&config) {
-                    Ok(state) => {
-                        self.bg_state = Some(state);
-                    }
-                    Err((err, state)) => {
-                        log::error!("failed to load bg config: {:?}", err);
-                        self.bg_state = Some(state);
-                    }
-                }
-            }
-
             cmd
         } else {
             Command::none()
@@ -593,6 +565,9 @@ impl Application for App {
             Msg::CompConfig(c) => {
                 self.conf.workspace_config = c.workspaces;
             }
+            Msg::BgConfig(c) => {
+                self.conf.bg = c;
+            }
         }
 
         Command::none()
@@ -646,7 +621,25 @@ impl Application for App {
             }
             Msg::CompConfig(Box::new(update.config))
         });
-        let mut subscriptions = vec![events, config_subscription, comp_config_subscription];
+        let bg_subscription =
+            cosmic_config::config_state_subscription::<_, cosmic_bg_config::state::State>(
+                "bg-sub",
+                cosmic_bg_config::NAME.into(),
+                cosmic_bg_config::state::State::version(),
+            )
+            .map(|update| {
+                if !update.errors.is_empty() {
+                    log::error!("Failed to load bg config: {:?}", update.errors);
+                }
+                Msg::BgConfig(update.config)
+            });
+
+        let mut subscriptions = vec![
+            events,
+            config_subscription,
+            comp_config_subscription,
+            bg_subscription,
+        ];
         if let Some(conn) = self.conn.clone() {
             subscriptions.push(backend::subscription(conn).map(Msg::Wayland));
         }
diff --git a/src/view/mod.rs b/src/view/mod.rs
index 6284f75..77d5f34 100644
--- a/src/view/mod.rs
+++ b/src/view/mod.rs
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ pub(crate) fn layer_surface<'a>(
         .iter()
         .find(|x| x.handle == surface.output)
         .map_or("", |o| &o.name);
-    let bg = bg_element(app.bg_state.as_ref(), output_name);
+    let bg = bg_element(&app.conf.bg, output_name);
     crate::widgets::image_bg(container, bg).into()
 }
 
@@ -125,7 +125,9 @@ pub(crate) fn workspace_item<'a>(
             .selected(workspace.is_active)
             .style(cosmic::theme::Button::Custom {
                 active: Box::new(move |_focused, theme| workspace_item_appearance(
-                    theme, is_active, is_drop_target
+                    theme,
+                    is_active,
+                    is_drop_target
                 )),
                 disabled: Box::new(|_theme| { unreachable!() }),
                 hovered: Box::new(move |_focused, theme| workspace_item_appearance(
@@ -332,12 +334,12 @@ fn toplevel_previews<'a>(
 }
 
 fn bg_element<'a>(
-    bg_state: Option<&'a cosmic_bg_config::state::State>,
+    bg_state: &'a cosmic_bg_config::state::State,
     output_name: &'a str,
 ) -> cosmic::Element<'a, Msg> {
     let bg_source = bg_state
-        .into_iter()
-        .flat_map(|x| x.wallpapers.iter())
+        .wallpapers
+        .iter()
         .find(|(n, _)| n == output_name)
         .map(|(_, v)| v.clone());
     match bg_source {