diff --git a/config.go b/config.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..24f047a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config.go
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"go.wit.com/lib/config"
+	"go.wit.com/lib/protobuf/forgepb"
+	"go.wit.com/log"
+)
+
+// sent via -ldflags
+
+func configInit() *forgepb.ForgeConfigs {
+	configs := new(forgepb.ForgeConfigs)
+	err := config.ConfigLoad(configs, "forge", "forge")
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Info("This tool requires your repos be scanned by forge first")
+		badExit(err)
+	}
+	return configs
+}
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index ea2f6b9..d77d334 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -41,8 +41,9 @@ func main() {
 	state = make(map[*gitpb.Repo]string)
 	debnames = make(map[*gitpb.Repo]string)
 
-	// load the ~/.config/forge/ config
-	me.forge = forgepb.Init()
+	// read in forge info
+	cfg := configInit()
+	me.forge = forgepb.InitFromConfig(cfg)
 
 	me.machine = new(zoopb.Machine)
 	if err := me.machine.ConfigLoad(); err != nil {