diff --git a/cobra/cmd/init.go b/cobra/cmd/init.go
index b77c9864..b33bd3a1 100644
--- a/cobra/cmd/init.go
+++ b/cobra/cmd/init.go
@@ -205,14 +205,16 @@ func init() {
 {{ if .viper }}
 // initConfig reads in config file and ENV variables if set.
 func initConfig() {
-	if cfgFile != "" { // enable ability to specify config file via flag
-		viper.SetConfigFile(cfgFile)
-	}
 
 	viper.SetConfigName(".{{ .appName }}") // name of config file (without extension)
 	viper.AddConfigPath(os.Getenv("HOME")) // adding home directory as first search path
 	viper.AutomaticEnv()                   // read in environment variables that match
 
+	// Checking for the cfgFile after setting default paths.
+	if cfgFile != "" { // enable ability to specify config file via flag
+		viper.SetConfigFile(cfgFile)
+	}
+
 	// If a config file is found, read it in.
 	if err := viper.ReadInConfig(); err == nil {
 		fmt.Println("Using config file:", viper.ConfigFileUsed())
diff --git a/cobra/cmd/root.go b/cobra/cmd/root.go
index 32386ace..2ab569da 100644
--- a/cobra/cmd/root.go
+++ b/cobra/cmd/root.go
@@ -57,14 +57,16 @@ func init() {
 
 // Read in config file and ENV variables if set.
 func initConfig() {
-	if cfgFile != "" { // enable ability to specify config file via flag
-		viper.SetConfigFile(cfgFile)
-	}
 
 	viper.SetConfigName(".cobra")          // name of config file (without extension)
 	viper.AddConfigPath(os.Getenv("HOME")) // adding home directory as first search path
 	viper.AutomaticEnv()                   // read in environment variables that match
 
+	// Checking for the cfgFile after setting default paths.
+	if cfgFile != "" { // enable ability to specify config file via flag
+		viper.SetConfigFile(cfgFile)
+	}
+
 	// If a config file is found, read it in.
 	if err := viper.ReadInConfig(); err == nil {
 		fmt.Println("Using config file:", viper.ConfigFileUsed())