diff --git a/conf.el b/conf.el
index cf71463..beed2a1 100644
--- a/conf.el
+++ b/conf.el
@@ -99,7 +99,13 @@
 		helm-recentf-fuzzy-match t
 		helm-semantic-fuzzy-match t
 		helm-imenu-fuzzy-match t
-		helm-scroll-amount 8))
+		helm-scroll-amount 8)
+
+  (add-to-list 'display-buffer-alist
+               `(,(rx bos "*helm" (* not-newline) "*" eos)
+                 (display-buffer-in-side-window)
+                 (inhibit-same-window . t)
+                 (window-height . 0.4))))
 
 (helm-autoresize-mode 1)
 (require 'helm-config)
diff --git a/conf.org b/conf.org
index f69f400..12e39d6 100644
--- a/conf.org
+++ b/conf.org
@@ -148,7 +148,15 @@ NOTE: this only works if we start term after gui, and term has light bg. not big
 		helm-recentf-fuzzy-match t
 		helm-semantic-fuzzy-match t
 		helm-imenu-fuzzy-match t
-		helm-scroll-amount 8))
+		helm-scroll-amount 8)
+
+  ;; I liked the way ido-veritcal worked
+  ;; less invasive...
+  (add-to-list 'display-buffer-alist
+               `(,(rx bos "*helm" (* not-newline) "*" eos)
+                 (display-buffer-in-side-window)
+                 (inhibit-same-window . t)
+                 (window-height . 0.4))))
 
 (helm-autoresize-mode 1)
 (require 'helm-config)