diff --git a/config_cmd.go b/config_cmd.go
index 917a773..800524f 100644
--- a/config_cmd.go
+++ b/config_cmd.go
@@ -4,22 +4,77 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
+	"os/exec"
+	"path"
 
 	"github.com/charmbracelet/charm/ui/common"
+	gap "github.com/muesli/go-app-paths"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 )
 
+const defaultConfig = `# style name or JSON path (default "auto")
+style: "light"
+# show local files only; no network (TUI-mode only)
+local: true
+# word-wrap at width
+width: 80`
+
 var configCmd = &cobra.Command{
-	Use:    "config",
-	Hidden: false,
-	Short:  "Edit the glow config file",
-	Long:   formatBlock(fmt.Sprintf("\n%s the glow config file. We’ll use EDITOR to determine which editor to use. If the config file doesn't exist, it will be created.", common.Keyword("Edit"))),
-	Args:   cobra.NoArgs,
+	Use:     "config",
+	Hidden:  false,
+	Short:   "Edit the glow config file",
+	Long:    formatBlock(fmt.Sprintf("\n%s the glow config file. We’ll use EDITOR to determine which editor to use. If the config file doesn't exist, it will be created.", common.Keyword("Edit"))),
+	Example: formatBlock("glow config\nglow config --config path/to/config.yml"),
+	Args:    cobra.NoArgs,
 	RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
-		if os.Getenv("EDITORS") == "" {
+		if configFile == "" {
+			scope := gap.NewScope(gap.User, "glow")
+
+			var err error
+			configFile, err = scope.ConfigPath("glow.yml")
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+		}
+
+		if ext := path.Ext(configFile); ext != ".yaml" && ext != ".yml" {
+			return fmt.Errorf("'%s' is not a supported config type: use '%s' or '%s'\n", ext, ".yaml", ".yml")
+		}
+
+		if _, err := os.Stat(configFile); os.IsNotExist(err) {
+			// File doesn't exist yet, create all necessary directories and
+			// write the default config file
+			if err := os.MkdirAll(path.Dir(configFile), 0700); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+
+			f, err := os.Create(configFile)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			defer f.Close()
+
+			if _, err := f.WriteString(defaultConfig); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+		} else if err != nil { // some other error occurred
+			return err
+		}
+
+		editor := os.Getenv("EDITOR")
+		if editor == "" {
 			return errors.New("no EDITOR environment variable set")
 		}
 
+		c := exec.Command(editor, configFile)
+		c.Stdin = os.Stdin
+		c.Stdout = os.Stdout
+		c.Stderr = os.Stderr
+		if err := c.Run(); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		fmt.Println("Wrote config file to:", configFile)
 		return nil
 	},
 }
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index e799ca3..4999ea8 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -163,6 +163,7 @@ func validateOptions(cmd *cobra.Command) {
 }
 
 func execute(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+	initConfig()
 	validateOptions(cmd)
 
 	if len(args) == 0 {
@@ -334,8 +335,6 @@ func init() {
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(stashCmd)
 
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(configCmd)
-
-	cobra.OnInitialize(initConfig)
 }
 
 func initConfig() {
diff --git a/stash_cmd.go b/stash_cmd.go
index d897a49..e1d69a7 100644
--- a/stash_cmd.go
+++ b/stash_cmd.go
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ var (
 		Example: formatBlock("glow stash\nglow stash README.md\nglow stash -m \"secret notes\" path/to/notes.md"),
 		Args:    cobra.MaximumNArgs(1),
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+			initConfig()
 			if len(args) == 0 {
 				return runTUI(true)
 			}