diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 452796f..49a7e3f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -73,3 +73,5 @@ For specifics on how the config for each rule should be formatted, see [their sp
 
 If you are using the JS API, this configuration object is passed as the second parameter.
 
+If no configuration is found or provided, a default configuration object is used.
+This default configuration may be changed such that previously valid SVGs become invalid in minor releases and patches.
diff --git a/bin/cli.js b/bin/cli.js
index a744d88..fe9b182 100755
--- a/bin/cli.js
+++ b/bin/cli.js
@@ -61,7 +61,15 @@ process.on("exit", () => {
     let configObj;
     try {
         const configFile = await getConfigurationFile(cli.flags.config);
-        configObj = require(configFile);
+        if (configFile) {
+            configObj = require(configFile);
+        } else {
+            logger.debug("No configuration file found")
+            if (cli.flags.config) {
+                logger.error("Configuration file not found");
+                process.exit(1);
+            }
+        }
     } catch (e) {
         logger.error(`Failed to parse config: ${e.stack}`);
         process.exit(1);
diff --git a/src/cli/config.js b/src/cli/config.js
index 4c4b298..b144ff3 100644
--- a/src/cli/config.js
+++ b/src/cli/config.js
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ const fs = require("fs");
 
 /**
  * Gets the configuration file to use
- * Throws if file isn't found
  * @param {String} filename The filename to look for
  * @param {String} folder The folder to look in
  * @returns {Promise<String,Boolean>} The path to the configuration file, or false
@@ -20,7 +19,7 @@ function getConfigurationFile(filename=".svglintrc.js", folder=process.cwd()) {
             } else {
                 const parent = path.resolve(folder, "..");
                 if (parent === folder) {
-                    return rej(new Error(`Config file not found at '${resolved}'`));
+                    return res(false);
                 }
                 // if not, get next folder
                 getConfigurationFile(
diff --git a/src/svglint.js b/src/svglint.js
index a958b24..9475d77 100644
--- a/src/svglint.js
+++ b/src/svglint.js
@@ -129,10 +129,10 @@ module.exports = {
      * The function returns before the Linting is finished.
      * You should listen to Linting.on("done") to wait for the result.
      * @param {String} source The SVG to lint
-     * @param {Config} config The config to lint by
+     * @param {Config} [config={}] The config to lint by
      * @return {Linting} The Linting that represents the result
      */
-    lintSource(source, config) {
+    lintSource(source, config={}) {
         const ast = parse.parseSource(source);
         return lint(null, ast, config);
     },
@@ -142,10 +142,10 @@ module.exports = {
      * The returned Promise resolves before the Linting is finished.
      * You should listen to Linting.on("done") to wait for the result.
      * @param {String} file The file path to lint
-     * @param {Config} config The config to lint by
+     * @param {Config} [config={}] The config to lint by
      * @returns {Promise<Linting>} Resolves to the Linting that represents the result
      */
-    async lintFile(file, config) {
+    async lintFile(file, config={}) {
         const ast = await parse.parseFile(file);
         return lint(file, ast, config);
     }
diff --git a/test/api.spec.js b/test/api.spec.js
index c3a2e87..eda0c1b 100644
--- a/test/api.spec.js
+++ b/test/api.spec.js
@@ -9,6 +9,14 @@ process.on("unhandledRejection", error => {
 const svg = "<svg></svg>";
 
 describe(".lintSource()", function() {
+    it("should succeed without config", function(done) {
+        const result = SVGLint.lintSource(svg);
+        result.on("done", () => {
+            expect(result.state).toBe(result.STATES.success);
+            done();
+        });
+    });
+
     it("should succeed with empty config", function(done) {
         const result = SVGLint.lintSource(svg, {});
         result.on("done", () => {
@@ -67,4 +75,14 @@ describe(".lintFile()", function() {
                 });
             });
     });
+
+    it("should succeed without config", function() {
+        return SVGLint.lintFile(path.join(__dirname, "./svgs/empty.svg"))
+            .then(linting => {
+                linting.on("done", () => {
+                    expect(linting.state).toBe(linting.STATES.success);
+                });
+            });
+    });
+
 });