diff --git a/src/cmd/utils/author_file_utils.go b/src/cmd/utils/author_file_utils.go
index e8ebe05..059b9d0 100644
--- a/src/cmd/utils/author_file_utils.go
+++ b/src/cmd/utils/author_file_utils.go
@@ -14,27 +14,26 @@ import (
 // An example of the author file can be found in the examples folder of the repo
 func Find_authorfile() string {
 	var file string
-
-	if os.Getenv("author_file") == "" {
-		if ConfigVar == nil {
-			cfg, _ := LoadConfig()
-			if cfg == nil {
-				// mimic the default config structure
-				cfg = &Config{
-					Settings: struct {
-						AuthorFile    string `mapstructure:"author_file"`
-						StartingScope string `mapstructure:"starting_scope"`
-						Editor        string `mapstructure:"editor"`
-					}{
-						AuthorFile:    "",
-						StartingScope: "git",
-						Editor:        "built-in",
-					},
-				}
-				cfg.SetGlobalConfig()
+	if ConfigVar == nil {
+		cfg, _ := LoadConfig()
+		if cfg == nil {
+			// mimic the default config structure
+			cfg = &Config{
+				Settings: struct {
+					AuthorFile    string `mapstructure:"author_file"`
+					StartingScope string `mapstructure:"starting_scope"`
+					Editor        string `mapstructure:"editor"`
+				}{
+					AuthorFile:    "",
+					StartingScope: "git",
+					Editor:        "built-in",
+				},
 			}
 		}
+		cfg.SetGlobalConfig()
+	}
 
+	if os.Getenv("author_file") == "" {
 		if ConfigVar.Settings.AuthorFile != "" {
 			file = ConfigVar.Settings.AuthorFile
 		} else if os.Getenv("author_file") != "" {