diff --git a/init.el b/init.el
index cd43804..94e2e67 100644
--- a/init.el
+++ b/init.el
@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@
 (setq gnutls-algorithm-priority "NORMAL:-VERS-TLS1.3")
 
 (require 'package)
+;; when GNU ELPA is down
+(setq package-archives (assoc-delete-all "gnu" package-archives))
 (add-to-list 'package-archives '("melpa" . "https://melpa.org/packages/") t)
 ;; Comment/uncomment this line to enable MELPA Stable if desired. See
 ;; `package-archive-priorities` and `package-pinned-packages`. Most