diff --git a/config.go b/config.go
index 777e82e..ec68006 100644
--- a/config.go
+++ b/config.go
@@ -17,7 +17,10 @@ const (
 type Config struct {
 	Colors      *ColorMap `json:"colors"`
 	DateTimeFmt string    `json:"dateTimeFmt"`
+	BasePath    string    `json:"basePath"`
 	DBPath      string    `json:"dbPath"`
+	SocketPath  string    `json:"socketPath"`
+	IconPath    string    `json:"iconPath"`
 }
 
 type ColorMap struct {
@@ -72,31 +75,40 @@ func (c *ColorMap) UnmarshalJSON(raw []byte) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func NewConfig(configPath string) (*Config, error) {
+func LoadConfig(configPath string, config *Config) error {
 	raw, err := ioutil.ReadFile(configPath)
 	if err != nil {
+		os.MkdirAll(path.Dir(configPath), 0755)
 		// Create an empty config file
 		// if it does not already exist.
 		if os.IsNotExist(err) {
 			raw, _ := json.Marshal(map[string]string{})
 			err := ioutil.WriteFile(configPath, raw, 0644)
 			if err != nil {
-				return nil, err
+				return err
 			}
-			return NewConfig(configPath)
+			return LoadConfig(configPath, config)
 		}
-		return nil, err
+		return err
 	}
-	config := &Config{}
 	err = json.Unmarshal(raw, config)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+		return err
 	}
 	if config.DateTimeFmt == "" {
 		config.DateTimeFmt = defaultDateTimeFmt
 	}
-	if config.DBPath == "" {
-		config.DBPath = path.Dir(configPath) + "/pomo.db"
+	if config.BasePath == "" {
+		config.BasePath = path.Dir(configPath)
 	}
-	return config, nil
+	if config.DBPath == "" {
+		config.DBPath = path.Join(config.BasePath, "/pomo.db")
+	}
+	if config.SocketPath == "" {
+		config.SocketPath = path.Join(config.BasePath, "/pomo.sock")
+	}
+	if config.IconPath == "" {
+		config.IconPath = path.Join(config.BasePath, "/icon.png")
+	}
+	return nil
 }
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index e4c1f47..a7ebcf9 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import (
 	cli "github.com/jawher/mow.cli"
 )
 
-func start(path *string) func(*cli.Cmd) {
+func start(config *Config) func(*cli.Cmd) {
 	return func(cmd *cli.Cmd) {
 		cmd.Spec = "[OPTIONS] MESSAGE"
 		var (
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ func start(path *string) func(*cli.Cmd) {
 		cmd.Action = func() {
 			parsed, err := time.ParseDuration(*duration)
 			maybe(err)
-			db, err := NewStore(*path)
+			db, err := NewStore(config.DBPath)
 			maybe(err)
 			defer db.Close()
 			task := &Task{
@@ -40,9 +40,9 @@ func start(path *string) func(*cli.Cmd) {
 				task.ID = id
 				return nil
 			}))
-			runner, err := NewTaskRunner(task, db, NewXnotifier(*path+"/icon.png"))
+			runner, err := NewTaskRunner(task, db, NewXnotifier(config.IconPath))
 			maybe(err)
-			server, err := NewServer(*path+"/pomo.sock", runner)
+			server, err := NewServer(config.SocketPath, runner)
 			maybe(err)
 			server.Start()
 			defer server.Stop()
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ func start(path *string) func(*cli.Cmd) {
 	}
 }
 
-func create(path *string) func(*cli.Cmd) {
+func create(config *Config) func(*cli.Cmd) {
 	return func(cmd *cli.Cmd) {
 		cmd.Spec = "[OPTIONS] MESSAGE"
 		var (
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ func create(path *string) func(*cli.Cmd) {
 		cmd.Action = func() {
 			parsed, err := time.ParseDuration(*duration)
 			maybe(err)
-			db, err := NewStore(*path)
+			db, err := NewStore(config.DBPath)
 			maybe(err)
 			defer db.Close()
 			task := &Task{
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ func create(path *string) func(*cli.Cmd) {
 	}
 }
 
-func begin(path *string) func(*cli.Cmd) {
+func begin(config *Config) func(*cli.Cmd) {
 	return func(cmd *cli.Cmd) {
 		cmd.Spec = "[OPTIONS] TASK_ID"
 		var (
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ func begin(path *string) func(*cli.Cmd) {
 		)
 
 		cmd.Action = func() {
-			db, err := NewStore(*path)
+			db, err := NewStore(config.DBPath)
 			maybe(err)
 			defer db.Close()
 			var task *Task
@@ -110,9 +110,9 @@ func begin(path *string) func(*cli.Cmd) {
 				task.Pomodoros = []*Pomodoro{}
 				return nil
 			}))
-			runner, err := NewTaskRunner(task, db, NewXnotifier(*path+"/icon.png"))
+			runner, err := NewTaskRunner(task, db, NewXnotifier(config.IconPath))
 			maybe(err)
-			server, err := NewServer(*path+"/pomo.sock", runner)
+			server, err := NewServer(config.SocketPath, runner)
 			maybe(err)
 			server.Start()
 			defer server.Stop()
@@ -122,11 +122,11 @@ func begin(path *string) func(*cli.Cmd) {
 	}
 }
 
-func initialize(path *string) func(*cli.Cmd) {
+func initialize(config *Config) func(*cli.Cmd) {
 	return func(cmd *cli.Cmd) {
 		cmd.Spec = "[OPTIONS]"
 		cmd.Action = func() {
-			db, err := NewStore(*path)
+			db, err := NewStore(config.DBPath)
 			maybe(err)
 			defer db.Close()
 			maybe(initDB(db))
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ func initialize(path *string) func(*cli.Cmd) {
 	}
 }
 
-func list(path *string) func(*cli.Cmd) {
+func list(config *Config) func(*cli.Cmd) {
 	return func(cmd *cli.Cmd) {
 		cmd.Spec = "[OPTIONS]"
 		var (
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ func list(path *string) func(*cli.Cmd) {
 		cmd.Action = func() {
 			duration, err := time.ParseDuration(*duration)
 			maybe(err)
-			db, err := NewStore(*path)
+			db, err := NewStore(config.DBPath)
 			maybe(err)
 			defer db.Close()
 			maybe(db.With(func(tx *sql.Tx) error {
@@ -166,7 +166,6 @@ func list(path *string) func(*cli.Cmd) {
 					maybe(json.NewEncoder(os.Stdout).Encode(tasks))
 					return nil
 				}
-				config, err := NewConfig(*path + "/config.json")
 				maybe(err)
 				summerizeTasks(config, tasks)
 				return nil
@@ -175,12 +174,12 @@ func list(path *string) func(*cli.Cmd) {
 	}
 }
 
-func _delete(path *string) func(*cli.Cmd) {
+func _delete(config *Config) func(*cli.Cmd) {
 	return func(cmd *cli.Cmd) {
 		cmd.Spec = "[OPTIONS] TASK_ID"
 		var taskID = cmd.IntArg("TASK_ID", -1, "task to delete")
 		cmd.Action = func() {
-			db, err := NewStore(*path)
+			db, err := NewStore(config.DBPath)
 			maybe(err)
 			defer db.Close()
 			maybe(db.With(func(tx *sql.Tx) error {
@@ -190,11 +189,11 @@ func _delete(path *string) func(*cli.Cmd) {
 	}
 }
 
-func _status(path *string) func(*cli.Cmd) {
+func _status(config *Config) func(*cli.Cmd) {
 	return func(cmd *cli.Cmd) {
 		cmd.Spec = "[OPTIONS]"
 		cmd.Action = func() {
-			client, err := NewClient(*path + "/pomo.sock")
+			client, err := NewClient(config.SocketPath)
 			if err != nil {
 				outputStatus(Status{})
 				return
@@ -207,12 +206,10 @@ func _status(path *string) func(*cli.Cmd) {
 	}
 }
 
-func config(path *string) func(*cli.Cmd) {
+func _config(config *Config) func(*cli.Cmd) {
 	return func(cmd *cli.Cmd) {
 		cmd.Spec = "[OPTIONS]"
 		cmd.Action = func() {
-			config, err := NewConfig(*path + "/config.json")
-			maybe(err)
 			maybe(json.NewEncoder(os.Stdout).Encode(config))
 		}
 	}
@@ -223,16 +220,20 @@ func main() {
 	app.LongDesc = "Pomo helps you track what you did, how long it took you to do it, and how much effort you expect it to take."
 	app.Spec = "[OPTIONS]"
 	var (
-		path = app.StringOpt("p path", defaultConfigPath(), "path to the pomo config directory")
+		config = &Config{}
+		path   = app.StringOpt("p path", defaultConfigPath(), "path to the pomo config directory")
 	)
+	app.Before = func() {
+		maybe(LoadConfig(*path, config))
+	}
 	app.Version("v version", Version)
-	app.Command("start s", "start a new task", start(path))
-	app.Command("init", "initialize the sqlite database", initialize(path))
-	app.Command("config cf", "display the current configuration", config(path))
-	app.Command("create c", "create a new task without starting", create(path))
-	app.Command("begin b", "begin requested pomodoro", begin(path))
-	app.Command("list l", "list historical tasks", list(path))
-	app.Command("delete d", "delete a stored task", _delete(path))
-	app.Command("status st", "output the current status", _status(path))
+	app.Command("start s", "start a new task", start(config))
+	app.Command("init", "initialize the sqlite database", initialize(config))
+	app.Command("config cf", "display the current configuration", _config(config))
+	app.Command("create c", "create a new task without starting", create(config))
+	app.Command("begin b", "begin requested pomodoro", begin(config))
+	app.Command("list l", "list historical tasks", list(config))
+	app.Command("delete d", "delete a stored task", _delete(config))
+	app.Command("status st", "output the current status", _status(config))
 	app.Run(os.Args)
 }
diff --git a/runner_test.go b/runner_test.go
index 8c35da7..ca1b6f3 100644
--- a/runner_test.go
+++ b/runner_test.go
@@ -3,13 +3,14 @@ package main
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"io/ioutil"
+	"path"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 )
 
 func TestTaskRunner(t *testing.T) {
-	path, _ := ioutil.TempDir("/tmp", "")
-	store, err := NewStore(path)
+	baseDir, _ := ioutil.TempDir("/tmp", "")
+	store, err := NewStore(path.Join(baseDir, "pomo.db"))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Error(err)
 	}
diff --git a/store.go b/store.go
index 0152fbe..f3bf795 100644
--- a/store.go
+++ b/store.go
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package main
 
 import (
 	"database/sql"
-	"os"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
@@ -19,8 +18,7 @@ type Store struct {
 }
 
 func NewStore(path string) (*Store, error) {
-	os.Mkdir(path, 0755)
-	db, err := sql.Open("sqlite3", path+"/pomo.db")
+	db, err := sql.Open("sqlite3", path)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/util.go b/util.go
index d49501c..5ecb373 100644
--- a/util.go
+++ b/util.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"os/user"
+	"path"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/fatih/color"
@@ -19,7 +20,7 @@ func maybe(err error) {
 func defaultConfigPath() string {
 	u, err := user.Current()
 	maybe(err)
-	return u.HomeDir + "/.pomo"
+	return path.Join(u.HomeDir, "/.pomo/config.json")
 }
 
 func summerizeTasks(config *Config, tasks []*Task) {