diff --git a/HISTORY.txt b/HISTORY.txt
index 556b977..743718a 100644
--- a/HISTORY.txt
+++ b/HISTORY.txt
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@ Changelog
 0.13.11 (unreleased)
 --------------------
 
-- Nothing changed yet.
+- Better exception handling when looking for config.
+  [bignose-debian]
 
 
 0.13.10 (2022-12-13)
diff --git a/ipdb/__main__.py b/ipdb/__main__.py
index ff96a82..8a2c4a7 100644
--- a/ipdb/__main__.py
+++ b/ipdb/__main__.py
@@ -80,8 +80,8 @@ def set_trace(frame=None, context=None, cond=True):
 
 
 def get_context_from_config():
+    parser = get_config()
     try:
-        parser = get_config()
         return parser.getint("ipdb", "context")
     except (configparser.NoSectionError, configparser.NoOptionError):
         return 3