diff --git a/arsse.php b/arsse.php
index 2c2039fd..8214bb22 100644
--- a/arsse.php
+++ b/arsse.php
@@ -21,10 +21,8 @@ if (\PHP_SAPI=="cli") {
     $cli->dispatch();
 } else {
     // load configuration
-    Arsse::load(new Conf());
-    if (file_exists(BASE."config.php")) {
-        Arsse::$conf->importFile(BASE."config.php");
-    }
+    $conf = file_exists(BASE."config.php") ? new Conf(BASE."config.php") : new Conf;
+    Arsse::load($conf);
     // handle Web requests
     $emitter = new \Zend\Diactoros\Response\SapiEmitter();
     $response = (new REST)->dispatch();
diff --git a/lib/CLI.php b/lib/CLI.php
index b468dda6..2cf84cdf 100644
--- a/lib/CLI.php
+++ b/lib/CLI.php
@@ -36,11 +36,8 @@ USAGE_TEXT;
     }
 
     protected function loadConf(): bool {
-        // FIXME: this should be a method of the Conf class
-        Arsse::load(new Conf());
-        if (file_exists(BASE."config.php")) {
-            Arsse::$conf->importFile(BASE."config.php");
-        }
+        $conf = file_exists(BASE."config.php") ? new Conf(BASE."config.php") : new Conf;
+        Arsse::load($conf);
         // command-line operations will never respect authorization
         Arsse::$user->authorizationEnabled(false);
         return true;