diff --git a/copyparty/__init__.py b/copyparty/__init__.py
index 19530d85..010e4188 100644
--- a/copyparty/__init__.py
+++ b/copyparty/__init__.py
@@ -40,6 +40,9 @@ VT100 = "--ansi" in sys.argv or (
 )
 # introduced in anniversary update
 
+zs = os.environ.get("PRTY_CONFIG", "")
+CFG_DEF = [zs] if zs else []
+
 ANYWIN = WINDOWS or sys.platform in ["msys", "cygwin"]
 
 MACOS = platform.system() == "Darwin"
diff --git a/copyparty/__main__.py b/copyparty/__main__.py
index e28a12c5..ac06294f 100644
--- a/copyparty/__main__.py
+++ b/copyparty/__main__.py
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import uuid
 
 from .__init__ import (
     ANYWIN,
+    CFG_DEF,
     CORES,
     EXE,
     MACOS,
@@ -63,6 +64,7 @@ from .util import (
     URL_BUG,
     URL_PRJ,
     Daemon,
+    absreal,
     align_tab,
     b64enc,
     ctypes,
@@ -105,10 +107,6 @@ except:
 u = unicode
 zsid = uuid.uuid4().urn[4:]
 
-CFG_DEF = [os.environ.get("PRTY_CONFIG", "")]
-if not CFG_DEF[0]:
-    CFG_DEF.pop()
-
 FULL_HELP = os.environ.get("PRTY_FULL_HELP", "")
 
 
@@ -2217,6 +2215,9 @@ def main(argv: Optional[list[str]] = None) -> None:
             argv.pop(n)
             break
 
+    if CFG_DEF:
+        CFG_DEF[0] = absreal(CFG_DEF[0])
+
     ensure_locale()
 
     ensure_webdeps()
diff --git a/copyparty/authsrv.py b/copyparty/authsrv.py
index 2558dde2..3c01e821 100644
--- a/copyparty/authsrv.py
+++ b/copyparty/authsrv.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import threading
 import time
 from datetime import datetime
 
-from .__init__ import ANYWIN, MACOS, PY2, TYPE_CHECKING, WINDOWS, E
+from .__init__ import ANYWIN, CFG_DEF, MACOS, PY2, TYPE_CHECKING, WINDOWS, E
 from .bos import bos
 from .cfg import flagdescs, permdescs, vf_bmap, vf_cmap, vf_vmap
 from .pwhash import PWHash
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ from .util import (
     FN_EMB,
     HAVE_SQLITE3,
     IMPLICATIONS,
+    LOG,
     META_NOBOTS,
     MIMES,
     SQLITE_VER,
@@ -4079,6 +4080,11 @@ def expand_config_file(
             if fp2 in ipath:
                 continue
 
+            if CFG_DEF and CFG_DEF[0] == fp2:
+                t = "ignoring PRTY_CONFIG because it was also autodiscovered by %s -> %s"
+                LOG[0]("root", t % (ipath, fp))
+                continue
+
             expand_config_file(log, shenvexp, ret, fp2, ipath)
 
         return