diff --git a/jrnl/install.py b/jrnl/install.py
index b5ce9b33..f8322fba 100644
--- a/jrnl/install.py
+++ b/jrnl/install.py
@@ -76,10 +76,8 @@ def load_or_install_jrnl(alt_config_path):
         config = load_config(config_path)
 
         if config is None:
-            print(
-                f"Configuration file {config_path} is empty, now using default config"
-            )
-            config = get_default_config()
+            print("Unable to parse config file", file=sys.stderr)
+            sys.exit()
 
         if is_old_version(config_path):
             from jrnl import upgrade
diff --git a/tests/lib/given_steps.py b/tests/lib/given_steps.py
index ba619dba..dd7c4720 100644
--- a/tests/lib/given_steps.py
+++ b/tests/lib/given_steps.py
@@ -101,7 +101,11 @@ def we_use_the_config(request, temp_dir, working_dir):
 
     # @todo get rid of this by using default config values
     # merge in version number
-    if config_file.endswith("yaml") and os.path.exists(config_dest):
+    if (
+        config_file.endswith("yaml")
+        and os.path.exists(config_dest)
+        and os.path.getsize(config_dest) > 0
+    ):
         # Add jrnl version to file for 2.x journals
         with open(config_dest, "a") as cf:
             cf.write("version: {}".format(__version__))