diff --git a/bin/cli.js b/bin/cli.js
index 9bafdf2..1079fa0 100755
--- a/bin/cli.js
+++ b/bin/cli.js
@@ -83,6 +83,8 @@ process.on("exit", () => {
             if (cli.flags.config) {
                 logger.error("Configuration file not found");
                 process.exit(EXIT_CODES.configuration);
+            } else {
+                configObj = {};
             }
         }
     } catch (e) {
diff --git a/test/cli.spec.js b/test/cli.spec.js
index ac1f72c..bdf5efb 100644
--- a/test/cli.spec.js
+++ b/test/cli.spec.js
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ describe("CLI", function(){
     });
 
     it("should fail with an invalid SVG", async function(){
-        const { failed, exitCode } = await execCliWith([INVALID_SVG]);
+        const { failed, exitCode } = await execCliWith([INVALID_SVG], "test/projects/with-config");
         expect(failed).toBeTruthy();
         expect(exitCode).toBe(1);
     });
@@ -101,4 +101,9 @@ describe("Configuration files", function() {
         const { failed } = await execCliWith([VALID_SVG], "test/projects/cjs/bar/a/b/c");
         expect(failed).toBeFalsy();
     });
+
+    it("should succeed in a project without a config file", async function () {
+        const { stdout } = await execCliWith([VALID_SVG], "test/projects/without-config");
+        expect(stdout).toNotMatch("Failed to lint");
+    });
 });
diff --git a/.svglintrc.js b/test/projects/with-config/.svglintrc.js
similarity index 100%
rename from .svglintrc.js
rename to test/projects/with-config/.svglintrc.js
diff --git a/test/projects/without-config/.keep b/test/projects/without-config/.keep
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29