diff --git a/cmd/root.go b/cmd/root.go
index 91de49c4..1416e3b7 100644
--- a/cmd/root.go
+++ b/cmd/root.go
@@ -290,7 +290,11 @@ func setFlagsFromConfig() error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	_ = viper.ReadInConfig()
+	err = viper.ReadInConfig()
+	if err != nil {
+		// attempt to write config file if it does not exist
+		_ = viper.SafeWriteConfigAs(configFile)
+	}
 
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/internal/config/config.go b/internal/config/config.go
index 2491747a..ec56a7df 100644
--- a/internal/config/config.go
+++ b/internal/config/config.go
@@ -32,7 +32,9 @@ type Config struct {
 func New(filename string, readFile ReadFile) (Config, error) {
 	data, err := readFile(filename)
 	if err != nil {
-		return Config{}, err
+		return Config{}, errors.NewError(
+			fmt.Sprintf("unable to open config file. The file or directory may not exist: %s", filename),
+		)
 	}
 
 	var c Config