diff --git a/pubs/pubs_cmd.py b/pubs/pubs_cmd.py
index 033880e..6da78f2 100644
--- a/pubs/pubs_cmd.py
+++ b/pubs/pubs_cmd.py
@@ -60,7 +60,8 @@ def execute(raw_args=sys.argv):
                 # an update happened, reload conf.
                 conf = config.load_conf(path=conf_path)
         except config.ConfigurationNotFound:
-            if len(remaining_args) == 0 or remaining_args[0] == 'init' or remaining_args[0][0] == '-':
+            if (len(remaining_args) == 0 or remaining_args[0] == 'init'
+                or all(arg[0] == '-' for arg in remaining_args)):  # only optional arguments
                 conf = config.load_default_conf()
                 conf.filename = conf_path
             else: