diff --git a/src/config.rs b/src/config.rs
index 8fecef0b0..94d6e8967 100644
--- a/src/config.rs
+++ b/src/config.rs
@@ -9,8 +9,8 @@ use serde::Deserialize;
 
 #[derive(Debug, Deserialize)]
 pub struct Config {
-    pub default_path: PathBuf,
-    pub default_model: PathBuf,
+    pub default_path: Option<PathBuf>,
+    pub default_model: Option<PathBuf>,
 }
 
 impl Config {
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index a2c8b65c8..384404ae3 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ mod window;
 
 use std::collections::HashSet;
 use std::ffi::OsStr;
+use std::path::PathBuf;
 use std::{collections::HashMap, sync::mpsc, time::Instant};
 
 use futures::executor::block_on;
@@ -54,8 +55,18 @@ fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     let args = Args::parse();
     let config = Config::load()?;
 
-    let mut path = config.default_path;
-    path.push(args.model.unwrap_or(config.default_model));
+    let mut path = config.default_path.unwrap_or_else(|| PathBuf::from(""));
+    match args.model.or(config.default_model) {
+        Some(model) => {
+            path.push(model);
+        }
+        None => {
+            anyhow::bail!(
+                "No model specified, and no default model configured.\n\
+                Specify a model by passing `--model path/to/model`."
+            );
+        }
+    }
 
     let model = Model::from_path(path)?;