diff --git a/melib/src/backends.rs b/melib/src/backends.rs
index 7b8f40ab..9456a3ac 100644
--- a/melib/src/backends.rs
+++ b/melib/src/backends.rs
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ impl BackendOp for ReadOnlyOp {
     }
 }
 
-#[derive(Debug, Copy, Hash, Eq, Clone, Deserialize, PartialEq)]
+#[derive(Debug, Copy, Hash, Eq, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq)]
 pub enum SpecialUseMailbox {
     Normal,
     Inbox,
diff --git a/ui/src/conf.rs b/ui/src/conf.rs
index 69022c10..f141559a 100644
--- a/ui/src/conf.rs
+++ b/ui/src/conf.rs
@@ -41,7 +41,8 @@ use melib::backends::SpecialUseMailbox;
 use melib::conf::AccountSettings;
 use melib::error::*;
 
-use self::serde::{de, Deserialize, Deserializer};
+use serde::{de, Deserialize, Deserializer, Serialize, Serializer};
+
 use std::collections::HashMap;
 use std::env;
 use std::fs::{File, OpenOptions};
@@ -88,7 +89,7 @@ impl ToggleFlag {
     }
 }
 
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, Deserialize)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct FolderConf {
     rename: Option<String>,
     #[serde(default = "true_val")]
@@ -119,7 +120,7 @@ impl FolderConf {
     }
 }
 
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, Default, Deserialize)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Default, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct FileAccount {
     root_folder: String,
     format: String,
@@ -247,7 +248,7 @@ impl FileAccount {
     }
 }
 
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, Default, Deserialize)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Default, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 struct FileSettings {
     accounts: HashMap<String, FileAccount>,
     #[serde(default)]
@@ -376,7 +377,7 @@ impl Settings {
     }
 }
 
-#[derive(Copy, Debug, Clone, Deserialize)]
+#[derive(Copy, Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub enum IndexStyle {
     Plain,
     Threaded,
@@ -426,6 +427,19 @@ where
     })
 }
 
+impl Serialize for ToggleFlag {
+    fn serialize<S>(&self, serializer: S) -> std::result::Result<S::Ok, S::Error>
+    where
+        S: Serializer,
+    {
+        match self {
+            ToggleFlag::Unset | ToggleFlag::InternalVal(_) => serializer.serialize_none(),
+            ToggleFlag::False => serializer.serialize_bool(false),
+            ToggleFlag::True => serializer.serialize_bool(true),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 /*
  * Deserialize default functions
  */
diff --git a/ui/src/conf/notifications.rs b/ui/src/conf/notifications.rs
index 96c75499..663ab7cf 100644
--- a/ui/src/conf/notifications.rs
+++ b/ui/src/conf/notifications.rs
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ fn none() -> Option<String> {
 }
 
 /// Settings for the notifications function.
-#[derive(Debug, Deserialize, Clone, Default)]
+#[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize, Clone, Default)]
 pub struct NotificationsSettings {
     /// A command to pipe notifications through
     /// Default: None
diff --git a/ui/src/conf/shortcuts.rs b/ui/src/conf/shortcuts.rs
index ae7c534a..6ff569cb 100644
--- a/ui/src/conf/shortcuts.rs
+++ b/ui/src/conf/shortcuts.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ use crate::terminal::Key;
 //use std::any::TypeId;
 use fnv::FnvHashMap;
 
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, Default, Deserialize)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Default, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct Shortcuts {
     #[serde(flatten)]
     pub listing: ListingShortcuts,
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ macro_rules! shortcut_key_values {
         $(#[$outer:meta])*
         pub struct $name:ident { $($fname:ident : Key |> $fdesc:expr),* }) => {
         $(#[$outer])*
-        #[derive(Debug, Clone, Deserialize)]
+        #[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
         #[serde(default)]
         #[serde(rename = $cname)]
         pub struct $name {
diff --git a/ui/src/terminal/keys.rs b/ui/src/terminal/keys.rs
index dd90e94b..fc431870 100644
--- a/ui/src/terminal/keys.rs
+++ b/ui/src/terminal/keys.rs
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 
 use super::*;
 use chan;
+use serde::{Serialize, Serializer};
 use std::fmt;
 use std::io;
 use termion::event::Event as TermionEvent;
@@ -285,3 +286,33 @@ impl<'de> Deserialize<'de> for Key {
         deserializer.deserialize_identifier(KeyVisitor)
     }
 }
+
+impl Serialize for Key {
+    fn serialize<S>(&self, serializer: S) -> Result<S::Ok, S::Error>
+    where
+        S: Serializer,
+    {
+        match self {
+            Key::Backspace => serializer.serialize_str("Backspace"),
+            Key::Left => serializer.serialize_str("Left"),
+            Key::Right => serializer.serialize_str("Right"),
+            Key::Up => serializer.serialize_str("Up"),
+            Key::Down => serializer.serialize_str("Down"),
+            Key::Home => serializer.serialize_str("Home"),
+            Key::End => serializer.serialize_str("End"),
+            Key::PageUp => serializer.serialize_str("PageUp"),
+            Key::PageDown => serializer.serialize_str("PageDown"),
+            Key::Delete => serializer.serialize_str("Delete"),
+            Key::Insert => serializer.serialize_str("Insert"),
+            Key::Esc => serializer.serialize_str("Esc"),
+            Key::Char(c) => serializer.serialize_char(*c),
+            Key::F(n) => serializer.serialize_str(&format!("F{}", n)),
+            Key::Alt(c) => serializer.serialize_str(&format!("M-{}", c)),
+            Key::Ctrl(c) => serializer.serialize_str(&format!("C-{}", c)),
+            v => Err(serde::ser::Error::custom(format!(
+                "`{}` is not a valid key",
+                v
+            ))),
+        }
+    }
+}