diff --git a/core/core-editor.el b/core/core-editor.el
index be5e9b1e6..985b0aeec 100644
--- a/core/core-editor.el
+++ b/core/core-editor.el
@@ -213,27 +213,11 @@ with functions that require it (like modeline segments)."
 
   (add-hook 'doom-init-hook #'smartparens-global-mode)
   (require 'smartparens-config)
-  ;; Smartparens interferes with Replace mode
+
+  ;; disable smartparens in evil-mode's replace state (they conflict)
   (add-hook 'evil-replace-state-entry-hook #'turn-off-smartparens-mode)
   (add-hook 'evil-replace-state-exit-hook  #'turn-on-smartparens-mode)
 
-  ;; Auto-close more conservatively
-  (let ((unless-list '(sp-point-before-word-p
-                       sp-point-after-word-p
-                       sp-point-before-same-p)))
-    (sp-pair "'"  nil :unless unless-list)
-    (sp-pair "\"" nil :unless unless-list))
-  (sp-pair "{" nil :post-handlers '(("||\n[i]" "RET") ("| " " "))
-           :unless '(sp-point-before-word-p sp-point-before-same-p))
-  (sp-pair "(" nil :post-handlers '(("||\n[i]" "RET") ("| " " "))
-           :unless '(sp-point-before-word-p sp-point-before-same-p))
-  (sp-pair "[" nil :post-handlers '(("| " " "))
-           :unless '(sp-point-before-word-p sp-point-before-same-p))
-
-  (sp-local-pair 'css-mode "/*" "*/"
-                 :post-handlers '(("[d-3]||\n[i]" "RET") ("| " "SPC")))
-  (sp-local-pair '(sh-mode markdown-mode) "`" nil
-                 :unless '(sp-point-before-word-p sp-point-before-same-p))
   (sp-local-pair '(xml-mode nxml-mode php-mode) "<!--" "-->"
                  :post-handlers '(("| " "SPC"))))
 
diff --git a/modules/lang/markdown/config.el b/modules/lang/markdown/config.el
index eb34411be..7b2345662 100644
--- a/modules/lang/markdown/config.el
+++ b/modules/lang/markdown/config.el
@@ -20,14 +20,7 @@
     (setq line-spacing 2
           fill-column 80))
 
-  (sp-local-pair
-   '(markdown-mode gfm-mode)
-   "\`\`\`" "\`\`\`" :post-handlers '(("||\n" "RET")))
-
-  (map! (:map gfm-mode-map
-          "`" #'self-insert-command)
-
-        (:map markdown-mode-map
+  (map! (:map markdown-mode-map
           [remap find-file-at-point] #'markdown-follow-thing-at-point
           "M-*"      #'markdown-insert-list-item
           "M-b"      #'markdown-insert-bold
diff --git a/modules/lang/sh/config.el b/modules/lang/sh/config.el
index 8fac14209..0c06ab1f3 100644
--- a/modules/lang/sh/config.el
+++ b/modules/lang/sh/config.el
@@ -35,6 +35,9 @@
               (,(regexp-opt +sh-builtin-keywords 'words)
                (0 'font-lock-builtin-face append))))
 
+  ;; autoclose backticks
+  (sp-local-pair 'sh-mode "`" nil :unless '(sp-point-before-word-p sp-point-before-same-p))
+
   ;; sh-mode has file extensions checks for other shells, but not zsh, so...
   (defun +sh|detect-zsh ()
     (when (or (and buffer-file-name
diff --git a/modules/private/hlissner/config.el b/modules/private/hlissner/config.el
index b6ea7b4cc..94afe04b4 100644
--- a/modules/private/hlissner/config.el
+++ b/modules/private/hlissner/config.el
@@ -19,6 +19,21 @@
     (apply orig-fn args)))
 (advice-add #'tramp-read-passwd :around #'+hlissner*no-authinfo-for-tramp)
 
+;;
+(after! smartparens
+  ;; Auto-close more conservatively
+  (let ((unless-list '(sp-point-before-word-p
+                       sp-point-after-word-p
+                       sp-point-before-same-p)))
+    (sp-pair "'"  nil :unless unless-list)
+    (sp-pair "\"" nil :unless unless-list))
+  (sp-pair "{" nil :post-handlers '(("||\n[i]" "RET") ("| " " "))
+           :unless '(sp-point-before-word-p sp-point-before-same-p))
+  (sp-pair "(" nil :post-handlers '(("||\n[i]" "RET") ("| " " "))
+           :unless '(sp-point-before-word-p sp-point-before-same-p))
+  (sp-pair "[" nil :post-handlers '(("| " " "))
+           :unless '(sp-point-before-word-p sp-point-before-same-p)))
+
 
 ;;
 (after! doom-themes