diff --git a/cista/config.py b/cista/config.py
index 823451d..bb906bb 100644
--- a/cista/config.py
+++ b/cista/config.py
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ class Link(msgspec.Struct, omit_defaults=True):
 
 
 config = None
-conffile = os.environ.get("CISTA_HOME") or Path.home() / ".local/share/cista/db.toml"
+conffile = None
 
 
 def derived_secret(*params, len=8) -> bytes:
@@ -120,7 +120,10 @@ def modifies_config(modify):
 
 
 def load_config():
-    global config
+    global config, conffile
+    conffile = (
+        Path(os.environ.get("CISTA_HOME")) or Path.home() / ".local/share/cista/db.toml"
+    )
     config = msgspec.toml.decode(conffile.read_bytes(), type=Config, dec_hook=dec_hook)