diff --git a/docs/manual/release-notes/rl-26.12.md b/docs/manual/release-notes/rl-26.12.md
index c0420320d..083b31ce9 100644
--- a/docs/manual/release-notes/rl-26.12.md
+++ b/docs/manual/release-notes/rl-26.12.md
@@ -195,6 +195,8 @@
 - Add [twilight.nvim] plugin in `vim.visuals.twilight-nvim` with `enable` and
   `setupOpts`.
 
+- Force deferred startup for `vim.presence.cord-nvim`.
+
 [khanage](https://github.com/khanage):
 
 - Reference elixir via `beamPackages`.
diff --git a/modules/plugins/rich-presence/cord-nvim/config.nix b/modules/plugins/rich-presence/cord-nvim/config.nix
index c22c1858f..bdf0f6a31 100644
--- a/modules/plugins/rich-presence/cord-nvim/config.nix
+++ b/modules/plugins/rich-presence/cord-nvim/config.nix
@@ -3,13 +3,13 @@
   lib,
   ...
 }: let
-  inherit (lib.modules) mkIf;
+  inherit (lib.modules) mkForce mkIf;
 
   cfg = config.vim.presence.cord-nvim;
 in {
   config = mkIf cfg.enable {
     vim = {
-      globals.cord_defer_startup = true;
+      globals.cord_defer_startup = mkForce true;
 
       lazy.plugins.cord-nvim = {
         package = "cord-nvim";