diff --git a/.config/emacs/config.el b/.config/emacs/config.el
index 7b2ef84..e551fce 100644
--- a/.config/emacs/config.el
+++ b/.config/emacs/config.el
@@ -328,7 +328,9 @@
 (use-package counsel
   :after ivy
   :diminish
-  :config (counsel-mode))
+  :config 
+    (counsel-mode)
+    (setq ivy-initial-inputs-alist nil)) ;; removes starting ^ regex in M-x
 
 (use-package ivy
   :bind
diff --git a/.config/emacs/config.org b/.config/emacs/config.org
index fa71905..6b9c42f 100644
--- a/.config/emacs/config.org
+++ b/.config/emacs/config.org
@@ -482,7 +482,9 @@ Let's make GNU Emacs look a little better.
 (use-package counsel
   :after ivy
   :diminish
-  :config (counsel-mode))
+  :config 
+    (counsel-mode)
+    (setq ivy-initial-inputs-alist nil)) ;; removes starting ^ regex in M-x
 
 (use-package ivy
   :bind