diff --git a/src/app/commands/styleprops.rs b/src/app/commands/styleprops.rs
index 430256eaf..46cb4118d 100644
--- a/src/app/commands/styleprops.rs
+++ b/src/app/commands/styleprops.rs
@@ -1350,9 +1350,15 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {
                         if let Some(value) = &value {
                             match value.parse::<i32>().ok().filter(|v| (-90..=90).contains(v)) {
                                 Some(fade) => self.set_xref_fade(fade),
-                                None => self
-                                    .command_line
-                                    .push_error("Requires an integer between -90 and 90."),
+                                // Refused: say why and ask again.
+                                None => {
+                                    self.command_line
+                                        .push_error("Requires an integer between -90 and 90.");
+                                    self.command_line.push_output(&format!(
+                                        "Enter new value for XDWGFADECTL <{current}>:"
+                                    ));
+                                    self.pending_setvar = Some(name.clone());
+                                }
                             }
                         } else {
                             self.command_line.push_output(&format!(
@@ -4521,11 +4527,12 @@ mod scale_validation_tests {
 }
 
 impl OpenCADStudio {
-    /// XDWGFADECTL: store it, show it on the ribbon and redraw every tab's
-    /// referenced drawings.
+    /// XDWGFADECTL: store it in the profile, show it on the ribbon and redraw
+    /// every tab's referenced drawings.
     pub(in crate::app) fn set_xref_fade(&mut self, fade: i32) {
         crate::scene::cache::block_cache::set_xref_fade_ctl(fade);
         self.ribbon.xref_fade = crate::scene::cache::block_cache::xref_fade_ctl();
+        self.save_config();
         for tab in &mut self.tabs {
             if !tab.is_start {
                 tab.scene.recolor_meshes();
diff --git a/src/app/settings.rs b/src/app/settings.rs
index 5f5aefc0c..dd431e8a4 100644
--- a/src/app/settings.rs
+++ b/src/app/settings.rs
@@ -423,6 +423,8 @@ pub struct UserSettings {
     pub attdef_on_screen: bool,
     /// FIELDDISPLAY: fields show on a gray background.
     pub field_display: bool,
+    /// XDWGFADECTL: how much referenced drawings fade (-90..=90; negative is off).
+    pub xref_fade: i32,
     /// SURFACEASSOCIATIVITY: new surfaces stay associative to their sources.
     pub surface_associativity: bool,
     /// UCSORTHO: an orthographic view preset also sets its orthographic UCS.
@@ -853,6 +855,7 @@ impl Default for UserSettings {
             image_frame: 1,
             attdef_on_screen: true,
             field_display: true,
+            xref_fade: 50,
             surface_associativity: true,
             ucs_ortho: true,
             ucs_view: true,
diff --git a/src/app/update/file.rs b/src/app/update/file.rs
index 3b9a478eb..fa84e084d 100644
--- a/src/app/update/file.rs
+++ b/src/app/update/file.rs
@@ -796,6 +796,7 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {
             image_frame: crate::scene::frame::profile_image_mode(),
             attdef_on_screen: crate::modules::draw::draw::attdef::session().on_screen,
             field_display: crate::entities::field::display(),
+            xref_fade: crate::scene::cache::block_cache::xref_fade_ctl(),
             surface_associativity: crate::scene::model::sweep_model::surface_associativity(),
             ucs_ortho: crate::modules::view::view_cmd::ucs_ortho(),
             ucs_view: crate::modules::view::view_cmd::ucs_view(),
@@ -916,6 +917,8 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {
         crate::scene::frame::set_profile_image_mode(s.image_frame);
         crate::modules::draw::draw::attdef::session().on_screen = s.attdef_on_screen;
         crate::entities::field::set_display(s.field_display);
+        crate::scene::cache::block_cache::set_xref_fade_ctl(s.xref_fade);
+        self.ribbon.xref_fade = crate::scene::cache::block_cache::xref_fade_ctl();
         crate::scene::model::sweep_model::set_surface_associativity(s.surface_associativity);
         crate::modules::view::view_cmd::set_ucs_ortho(s.ucs_ortho);
         crate::modules::view::view_cmd::set_ucs_view(s.ucs_view);