diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 5ca32dd..0034528 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -2,12 +2,10 @@
 
 [![Build Status](https://travis-ci.org/nodenv/nodenv-default-packages.svg)](https://travis-ci.org/nodenv/nodenv-default-packages)
 
-This nodenv plugin hooks into the `nodenv install` command to automatically
-install `npm` packages every time you install a new version of Node. It
-requires the `node-build` plugin to be installed.
+This nodenv plugin hooks into the `nodenv install` command to automatically install `npm` packages every time you install a new version of Node.
+It requires the `node-build` plugin to be installed.
 
-Forked from the excellent [`rbenv-default-gems`][rbenv-default-gems] plugin from
-[sstephenson][sstephenson].
+Forked from the excellent [`rbenv-default-gems`][rbenv-default-gems] plugin from [sstephenson][sstephenson].
 
 <!-- toc -->
 
@@ -15,6 +13,7 @@ Forked from the excellent [`rbenv-default-gems`][rbenv-default-gems] plugin from
   * [Installing as a nodenv plugin](#installing-as-a-nodenv-plugin)
   * [Installing with Homebrew (for OS X users)](#installing-with-homebrew-for-os-x-users)
 - [Usage](#usage)
+  * [default-packages Files](#default-packages-files)
   * [Updating Default Packages](#updating-default-packages)
 - [Credits](#credits)
 
@@ -30,11 +29,9 @@ Make sure you have the latest nodenv and node-build versions, then run:
 
 ### Installing with Homebrew (for OS X users)
 
-Mac OS X users can install nodenv-default-packages with the
-[Homebrew](http://brew.sh) package manager.
+Mac OS X users can install nodenv-default-packages with the [Homebrew](http://brew.sh) package manager.
 
-*This is the recommended method of installation if you installed nodenv
- with Homebrew.*
+*This is the recommended method of installation if you installed nodenv with Homebrew.*
 
 ```
 $ brew install nodenv/nodenv/nodenv-default-packages
@@ -48,12 +45,10 @@ $ brew install --HEAD nodenv/nodenv/nodenv-default-packages
 
 ## Usage
 
-nodenv-default-packages automatically installs the packages listed in the
-`$(nodenv root)/default-packages` file every time you successfully install a new
-version of Node with `nodenv install`.
+nodenv-default-packages automatically installs the packages listed in the [default-packages file(s)](#default-packages-files) file every time you successfully install a new version of Node with `nodenv install`.
 
-Specify packages in `$(nodenv root)/default-packages` by name, one per line. You may
-optionally specify a semver version spec after the name. For example:
+Specify packages in `default-packages` by name, one per line.
+You may optionally specify a semver version spec after the name. For example:
 
     grunt-cli
     jshint ~2.6.3
@@ -61,12 +56,17 @@ optionally specify a semver version spec after the name. For example:
 
 Blank lines and lines beginning with a `#` are ignored.
 
+### default-packages Files
+
+nodenv-default-packages reads from `$(nodenv root)/default-packages` as well as `nodenv/default-packages` under all [XDG config directories][xdg].
+The XDG config directories searched are `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME` (`$HOME/.config` if unset/empty) and all colon-separated `$XDG_CONFIG_DIRS` (`/etc/xdg` if unset/empty).
+
 ### Updating Default Packages
 
-if you update your `$(nodenv root)/default-packages` and want to refresh some or all of
-your existing node installations you can use commands like this:
+if you update your `$(nodenv root)/default-packages` and want to refresh some or all of your existing node installations you can use commands like this:
 
     nodenv default-packages install 8.8.1   # Reinstall default packages on Node version 8.8.1
+
     nodenv default-packages install --all   # Reinstall default packages on _all_ installed Node versions
 
 *NOTE:* This may take some time.
@@ -79,3 +79,4 @@ Forked from [Sam Stephenson][sstephenson]'s [rbenv-default-gems][] by [Josh Hagi
 [rbenv-default-gems]: https://github.com/rbenv/rbenv-default-gems
 [jawshooah]: https://github.com/jawshooah
 [nodenv]: https://github.com/nodenv/nodenv
+[xdg]: https://specifications.freedesktop.org/basedir-spec/basedir-spec-latest.html
diff --git a/bin/nodenv-default-packages b/bin/nodenv-default-packages
index f8bb7f4..3b79a9c 100755
--- a/bin/nodenv-default-packages
+++ b/bin/nodenv-default-packages
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 # Usage:
 #   nodenv default-packages list
 #   nodenv default-packages install [ --all | <version>...]
+#   nodenv default-packages files
 #
 
 set -eo pipefail
@@ -14,6 +15,7 @@ set -eo pipefail
 
 # Provide nodenv completions
 if [ "$1" = --complete ]; then
+  echo files
   echo install
   echo list
   echo --all
@@ -39,16 +41,9 @@ for_versions() {
 
 # Read package names and versions from $NODENV_ROOT/default-packages
 list_default_packages() {
-  [ -r "${NODENV_ROOT}/default-packages" ] || {
-    echo "No default-package file found" >&2
-    exit 1
-  }
-
-  local pkg_name pkg_version
-
-  # strip comments and empty lines
-  sed -e 's/#.*$//g' -e '/^[[:space:]]*$/d' "${NODENV_ROOT}/default-packages" |
-
+  default_packages_files |
+  tr '\n' '\0' | # replace newlines with nullchar so we can use xargs
+  xargs -0 sed -e 's/#.*$//g' -e '/^[[:space:]]*$/d' | # strip comments and empty lines
   while IFS=" " read -r pkg_name pkg_version; do
     echo "${pkg_name}${pkg_version:+@$pkg_version}"
   done
@@ -78,6 +73,23 @@ install_default_packages() {
   }
 }
 
+default_packages_files() {
+  local file_found
+
+  IFS=: read -ra xdg_dirs <<< "${XDG_CONFIG_HOME:-$HOME/.config}:${XDG_CONFIG_DIRS:-/etc/xdg}"
+
+  for dir in "$NODENV_ROOT" "${xdg_dirs[@]/%//nodenv}"; do
+    if test -r "$dir/default-packages"; then
+      echo "$_" && file_found=true
+    fi
+  done
+
+  if [ -z "${file_found:-}" ]; then
+    echo "nodenv: default-packages file not found" >&2
+    return 1
+  fi
+}
+
 unset cmd
 
 case "$1" in
@@ -85,7 +97,9 @@ case "$1" in
 
   list ) list_default_packages ;;
 
-  -h | --help ) nodenv-help; exit ;;
+  files ) default_packages_files ;;
+
+  -h | --help ) nodenv-help ;;
 
   *) nodenv-help --usage default-packages; exit 1 ;;
 esac
diff --git a/test/files.bats b/test/files.bats
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..461e037
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/files.bats
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bats
+
+load test_helper
+
+@test "file errors if file not found" {
+  run nodenv default-packages files
+
+  assert_failure
+  assert_output "nodenv: default-packages file not found"
+}
+
+@test "file finds default-packages in NODENV_ROOT" {
+  with_file "$NODENV_ROOT/default-packages" <<<""
+
+  run nodenv default-packages files
+
+  assert_success
+  assert_output "$NODENV_ROOT/default-packages"
+}
+
+@test "file finds default-packages in default XDG_CONFIG_HOME" {
+  with_file "$HOME/.config/nodenv/default-packages" <<<""
+
+  run nodenv default-packages files
+
+  assert_success
+  assert_output "$HOME/.config/nodenv/default-packages"
+}
+
+@test "file finds default-packages in configured XDG_CONFIG_HOME" {
+  XDG_CONFIG_HOME=$HOME/myconfig
+  with_file "$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/nodenv/default-packages" <<<""
+
+  XDG_CONFIG_HOME="$XDG_CONFIG_HOME" run nodenv default-packages files
+
+  assert_success
+  assert_output "$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/nodenv/default-packages"
+}
+
+@test "file finds default-packages in configured XDG_CONFIG_DIRS" {
+  with_file "$HOME/myconfig/nodenv/default-packages" <<<""
+
+  XDG_CONFIG_DIRS="$HOME/myconfig:other" run nodenv default-packages files
+
+  assert_success
+  assert_output "$HOME/myconfig/nodenv/default-packages"
+}
+
+@test "file finds default-packages in default XDG_CONFIG_DIRS" {
+  skip "can't fake /etc/xdg"
+}
+
+@test "file finds multiple files" {
+  with_file "$NODENV_ROOT/default-packages" <<<""
+  with_file "$HOME/.config/nodenv/default-packages" <<<""
+  with_file "$HOME/myconfig/nodenv/default-packages" <<<""
+  with_file "$HOME/theirconfig/nodenv/default-packages" <<<""
+
+  XDG_CONFIG_DIRS="$HOME/myconfig:$HOME/theirconfig" run nodenv default-packages files
+
+  assert_success
+  assert_output - <<-OUT
+	$NODENV_ROOT/default-packages
+	$HOME/.config/nodenv/default-packages
+	$HOME/myconfig/nodenv/default-packages
+	$HOME/theirconfig/nodenv/default-packages
+OUT
+}
diff --git a/test/hook.bats b/test/hook.bats
index 39a8191..bec0eb4 100755
--- a/test/hook.bats
+++ b/test/hook.bats
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 load test_helper
 
 @test "nodenv-install hook auto installs packages" {
-  with_default_packages_file <<< fake-package
+  with_file "$NODENV_ROOT/default-packages" <<< fake-package
 
   run nodenv install 0.10.36
 
diff --git a/test/install.bats b/test/install.bats
index db88ffb..6a69660 100755
--- a/test/install.bats
+++ b/test/install.bats
@@ -6,12 +6,12 @@ load test_helper
   run nodenv default-packages install 1.2.3
 
   assert_failure
-  refute_output "No default-packages file found"
+  assert_output "nodenv: default-packages file not found"
 }
 
 @test "install, without a version, installs to current node version" {
   nodenv install --no-hooks 10.0.0
-  with_default_packages_file <<< fake-package
+  with_file "$NODENV_ROOT/default-packages" <<< fake-package
 
   NODENV_VERSION=10.0.0 run nodenv default-packages install
 
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ load test_helper
 
 @test "install accepts node version to which to install" {
   nodenv install --no-hooks 10.0.0
-  with_default_packages_file <<< fake-package
+  with_file "$NODENV_ROOT/default-packages" <<< fake-package
 
   run nodenv default-packages install 10.0.0
 
@@ -31,10 +31,38 @@ load test_helper
 
 @test "install npm-installs single package" {
   nodenv install --no-hooks 10.0.0
-  with_default_packages_file <<< fake-package
+  with_file "$NODENV_ROOT/default-packages" <<< fake-package
 
   run nodenv default-packages install 10.0.0
 
   assert_success
   assert_output -p "npm invoked with: 'install -g fake-package'"
 }
+
+@test "install combines all default-packages files" {
+  nodenv install --no-hooks 10.0.0
+  with_file "$NODENV_ROOT/default-packages" <<< pkg-from-nodenv-root
+  with_file "$HOME/.config/nodenv/default-packages" <<< pkg-from-config-home
+  with_file "$HOME/myconfig/nodenv/default-packages" <<< pkg-from-config-dirs1
+  with_file "$HOME/theirconfig/nodenv/default-packages" <<< pkg-from-config-dirs2
+
+  XDG_CONFIG_DIRS="$HOME/myconfig:$HOME/theirconfig" NODENV_VERSION=10.0.0 run nodenv default-packages install
+
+  assert_success
+  assert_output -p "npm invoked with: 'install -g pkg-from-nodenv-root'"
+  assert_output -p "npm invoked with: 'install -g pkg-from-config-home'"
+  assert_output -p "npm invoked with: 'install -g pkg-from-config-dirs1'"
+  assert_output -p "npm invoked with: 'install -g pkg-from-config-dirs2'"
+}
+
+@test "install handles filenames with spaces" {
+  nodenv install --no-hooks 10.0.0
+  with_file "$HOME/my config/nodenv/default-packages" <<< pkg-from-config-dirs1
+  with_file "$HOME/their config/nodenv/default-packages" <<< pkg-from-config-dirs2
+
+  XDG_CONFIG_DIRS="$HOME/my config:$HOME/their config" NODENV_VERSION=10.0.0 run nodenv default-packages install
+
+  assert_success
+  assert_output -p "npm invoked with: 'install -g pkg-from-config-dirs1'"
+  assert_output -p "npm invoked with: 'install -g pkg-from-config-dirs2'"
+}
diff --git a/test/installer.bats b/test/installer.bats
index ea607c0..ac674f8 100755
--- a/test/installer.bats
+++ b/test/installer.bats
@@ -15,8 +15,7 @@ load test_helper
 
 @test "overwrites old installation" {
   cd "$BATS_TMPDIR"
-  mkdir -p etc/nodenv.d/install
-  touch etc/nodenv.d/install/default-packages.bash
+  with_file etc/nodenv.d/install/default-packages.bash <<<""
 
   PREFIX="$PWD" run "${BATS_TEST_DIRNAME}/../install.sh"
   assert_success
diff --git a/test/list.bats b/test/list.bats
index d43a694..fa3b6a7 100755
--- a/test/list.bats
+++ b/test/list.bats
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ load test_helper
 }
 
 @test "list default-packages" {
-  with_default_packages_file <<< fake-package
+  with_file "$NODENV_ROOT/default-packages" <<< fake-package
 
   run nodenv default-packages list
 
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ load test_helper
 }
 
 @test "list skips comments and empty lines" {
-  with_default_packages_file <<-PKGS
+  with_file "$NODENV_ROOT/default-packages" <<-PKGS
   fake-package
 
   # comment
diff --git a/test/test_helper.bash b/test/test_helper.bash
index 84b7ea5..5df44ea 100644
--- a/test/test_helper.bash
+++ b/test/test_helper.bash
@@ -13,6 +13,12 @@ setup() {
     unset "$nodenv_var"
   done
 
+  # unset all XDG_ vars
+  local xdg_var
+  for xdg_var in $(env 2>/dev/null | grep '^XDG_' | cut -d= -f1); do
+    unset "$xdg_var"
+  done
+
   # set a restricted PATH (test bin, app bin, and node bin, no homebrew)
   local test_bin="$BATS_TEST_DIRNAME/bin"
   local package_bin="$BATS_TEST_DIRNAME/../bin"
@@ -26,9 +32,13 @@ setup() {
 
   mkdir -p "$BATS_TMPDIR"
   testdir=$(mktemp -d "$BATS_TMPDIR/$BATS_TEST_NAME.XXX") || exit 1
+
   export NODENV_ROOT=$testdir/nodenv_root
   mkdir -p "$NODENV_ROOT"
 
+  export HOME=$testdir/home
+  mkdir -p "$HOME/.config/nodenv"
+
   export NODENV_HOOK_PATH="$BATS_TEST_DIRNAME/../etc/nodenv.d"
 }
 
@@ -36,7 +46,7 @@ teardown() {
   rm -rf "$BATS_TMPDIR" # same as BATS_MOCK_TMPDIR
 }
 
-with_default_packages_file() {
-  touch "$NODENV_ROOT/default-packages"
-  cat - >> "$NODENV_ROOT/default-packages"
+with_file() {
+  mkdir -p "$(dirname "$1")"
+  cat - > "$1"
 }