diff --git a/src/common.c b/src/common.c
index 8c4b993..f76f7fc 100644
--- a/src/common.c
+++ b/src/common.c
@@ -9,10 +9,15 @@ static int check_path(char *path) {
 	return access(path, R_OK) != -1;
 }
 
-char *get_config_path(char* pbuf, size_t bufsize) {
+char *get_config_path(char* default_path, char* pbuf, size_t bufsize) {
 	char buf[512];
+	// top priority: user defined path
+	char *path = default_path;
+	if(check_path(path))
+		goto have;
+	
 	// priority 1: env var PROXYCHAINS_CONF_FILE
-	char *path = getenv(PROXYCHAINS_CONF_FILE_ENV_VAR);
+	getenv(PROXYCHAINS_CONF_FILE_ENV_VAR);
 	if(check_path(path))
 		goto have;
 
@@ -40,6 +45,9 @@ char *get_config_path(char* pbuf, size_t bufsize) {
 	if(check_path(path))
 		goto have;
 	
+	perror("couldnt find configuration file");
+	exit(1);
+	
 	return NULL;
 	have:
 	return path;
diff --git a/src/common.h b/src/common.h
index f4fd841..156ef45 100644
--- a/src/common.h
+++ b/src/common.h
@@ -5,4 +5,4 @@
 
 #include <stddef.h>
 
-char *get_config_path(char* pbuf, size_t bufsize);
\ No newline at end of file
+char *get_config_path(char* default_path, char* pbuf, size_t bufsize);
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/libproxychains.c b/src/libproxychains.c
index c690b16..b2f2d91 100644
--- a/src/libproxychains.c
+++ b/src/libproxychains.c
@@ -150,17 +150,9 @@ static void get_chain_data(proxy_data * pd, unsigned int *proxy_count, chain_typ
 	tcp_read_time_out = 4 * 1000;
 	tcp_connect_time_out = 10 * 1000;
 	*ct = DYNAMIC_TYPE;
-
-	/* Get path to configuration file from env.
-	 * this file has priority if it's defined. */
 	
-	env = getenv(PROXYCHAINS_CONF_FILE_ENV_VAR);
-	if(!env) env = get_config_path(buff, sizeof(buff));
-	if(env) file = fopen(env, "r");
-	if(!file) {
-		perror("Can't locate proxychains.conf");
-		exit(1);
-	}
+	env = get_config_path(getenv(PROXYCHAINS_CONF_FILE_ENV_VAR), buff, sizeof(buff));
+	file = fopen(env, "r");
 
 	env = getenv(PROXYCHAINS_QUIET_MODE_ENV_VAR);
 	if(env && *env == '1')
diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index 6a21c37..795899c 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -95,11 +95,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 		return usage(argv);
 
 	/* check if path of config file has not been passed via command line */
-	if(!path) path = get_config_path(pbuf, sizeof(pbuf));
-	if(!path) {
-		perror("couldnt find configuration file");
-		return 1;
-	}
+	path = get_config_path(path, pbuf, sizeof(pbuf));
 	
 	if(!quiet)
 		fprintf(stderr, LOG_PREFIX "config file found: %s\n", path);