diff --git a/lib/config-util.js b/lib/config-util.js
index 42cad87b0..3c733e083 100644
--- a/lib/config-util.js
+++ b/lib/config-util.js
@@ -28,9 +28,6 @@ Config.loadConfig = function (argv, cwd) {
   }
 
   var config = Config.buildYargs(cwd)
-    .default({
-      cwd: cwd
-    })
   if (rcConfig) config.config(rcConfig)
   config = config.parse(argv || [])
 
@@ -136,8 +133,8 @@ Config.buildYargs = function (cwd) {
       global: false
     })
     .option('cwd', {
-      describe: 'working directory to lookup for files',
-      global: false
+      describe: 'working directory used when resolving paths',
+      default: cwd
     })
     .option('require', {
       alias: 'i',