diff --git a/cmd/root.go b/cmd/root.go
index cd89fa2..3b402b7 100644
--- a/cmd/root.go
+++ b/cmd/root.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 const VERSION string = "0.1"
+const CONFIG_DIR string = "/.config/gitw"
 
 var (
 	version bool
@@ -33,12 +34,30 @@ func init() {
 }
 
 func initConfig() {
+	home := os.Getenv("HOME")
 	viper.SetConfigName("config")
 	viper.SetConfigType("yaml")
-	viper.AddConfigPath("$HOME/.config/gitw")
+	viper.AddConfigPath(home + CONFIG_DIR)
 	viper.AutomaticEnv()
 	if err := viper.ReadInConfig(); err != nil {
-		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Failed to read configuration file: %s\n", err)
-		os.Exit(-1)
+		if _, ok := err.(viper.ConfigFileNotFoundError); ok {
+			// config file not found, create starting configuration file for the user
+			viper.Set("base_url", "<git-http-base-url>")
+			viper.Set("user_name", "<git-user-name>")
+			viper.Set("access_code", "<git-access-code>")
+			if err = os.MkdirAll(home+CONFIG_DIR, os.ModePerm); err != nil {
+				fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Could not create directories for configuration file: %s\nError: %s\n", home+CONFIG_DIR, err)
+				os.Exit(-1)
+			}
+			if err = viper.SafeWriteConfig(); err != nil {
+				fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Failed to write starting configuration file: %s\n", err)
+				os.Exit(-1)
+			}
+			fmt.Printf("Could not find configuration file in %s\nCreated starting configuration for you. Please enter the necessary values accordingly and try again.\n", home+CONFIG_DIR)
+			os.Exit(2)
+		} else {
+			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Failed to read configuration file: %s\n", err)
+			os.Exit(-1)
+		}
 	}
 }