diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index af487a03..0f43e40d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -154,8 +154,6 @@ An example configuration file can be found [here](docs/example_config.yml).
 
 #### Configuration file notes
 
-If the `--config.file` flag is not specified, `windows_exporter` will look for a file located at `%programfiles\windows_exporter\config.yml` by default. If no file is found, CLI flags are processed as per normal.
-
 Configuration file values can be mixed with CLI flags. E.G.
 
 `.\windows_exporter.exe --collectors.enabled=cpu,logon`
diff --git a/exporter.go b/exporter.go
index 0afcb651..adad69d5 100644
--- a/exporter.go
+++ b/exporter.go
@@ -273,8 +273,8 @@ func main() {
 		app        = kingpin.New("windows_exporter", "")
 		configFile = app.Flag(
 			"config.file",
-			"YAML configuration file to use. Values set in this file will override flags.",
-		).Default(os.ExpandEnv("$ProgramFiles\\windows_exporter\\config.yml")).String()
+			"YAML configuration file to use. Values set in this file will be overriden by CLI flags.",
+		).String()
 		listenAddress = app.Flag(
 			"telemetry.addr",
 			"host:port for exporter.",
@@ -311,18 +311,20 @@ func main() {
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Fatalf("%v\n", err)
 	}
-	resolver, err := config.NewResolver(*configFile)
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Fatalf("could not load config file: %v\n", err)
-	}
-	err = resolver.Bind(app, os.Args[1:])
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Fatalf("%v\n", err)
-	}
-	// Parse flags once more to include those discovered in configuration file(s).
-	_, err = app.Parse(os.Args[1:])
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Fatalf("%v\n", err)
+	if *configFile != "" {
+		resolver, err := config.NewResolver(*configFile)
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Fatalf("could not load config file: %v\n", err)
+		}
+		err = resolver.Bind(app, os.Args[1:])
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Fatalf("%v\n", err)
+		}
+		// Parse flags once more to include those discovered in configuration file(s).
+		_, err = app.Parse(os.Args[1:])
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Fatalf("%v\n", err)
+		}
 	}
 
 	if *printCollectors {