diff --git a/crates/gitbutler-core/src/projects/project.rs b/crates/gitbutler-core/src/projects/project.rs
index a255c7019..e59e70a64 100644
--- a/crates/gitbutler-core/src/projects/project.rs
+++ b/crates/gitbutler-core/src/projects/project.rs
@@ -87,12 +87,7 @@ pub struct Project {
     #[serde(default)]
     pub enable_snapshots: Option<bool>,
     // The number of changed lines that will trigger a snapshot
-    #[serde(default = "default_snapshot_lines_threshold")]
-    pub snapshot_lines_threshold: usize,
-}
-
-fn default_snapshot_lines_threshold() -> usize {
-    20
+    pub snapshot_lines_threshold: Option<usize>,
 }
 
 impl Project {
@@ -118,4 +113,8 @@ impl Project {
     pub fn virtual_branches(&self) -> VirtualBranchesHandle {
         VirtualBranchesHandle::new(self.gb_dir())
     }
+
+    pub fn snapshot_lines_threshold(&self) -> usize {
+        self.snapshot_lines_threshold.unwrap_or(20)
+    }
 }
diff --git a/crates/gitbutler-watcher/src/handler/mod.rs b/crates/gitbutler-watcher/src/handler/mod.rs
index 7777a6757..18c2a6853 100644
--- a/crates/gitbutler-watcher/src/handler/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/gitbutler-watcher/src/handler/mod.rs
@@ -301,7 +301,7 @@ impl Handler {
             .get(&project_id)
             .context("failed to get project")?;
         let changed_lines = project.lines_since_snapshot()?;
-        if changed_lines > project.snapshot_lines_threshold {
+        if changed_lines > project.snapshot_lines_threshold() {
             project.create_snapshot(SnapshotDetails::new(OperationType::FileChanges))?;
         }
         Ok(())