diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 856e5d5e7a..3db83f5d49 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -195,6 +195,25 @@ fn main() -> Result<()> {
                     NUSHELL_FOLDER,
                     is_perf_true(),
                 );
+                // only want to load config and env if relative argument is provided.
+                if binary_args.config_file.is_some() {
+                    config_files::read_config_file(
+                        &mut engine_state,
+                        &mut stack,
+                        binary_args.config_file,
+                        is_perf_true(),
+                        false,
+                    );
+                }
+                if binary_args.env_file.is_some() {
+                    config_files::read_config_file(
+                        &mut engine_state,
+                        &mut stack,
+                        binary_args.env_file,
+                        is_perf_true(),
+                        true,
+                    );
+                }
 
                 let ret_val = evaluate_commands(
                     commands,
@@ -217,6 +236,25 @@ fn main() -> Result<()> {
                     NUSHELL_FOLDER,
                     is_perf_true(),
                 );
+                // only want to load config and env if relative argument is provided.
+                if binary_args.config_file.is_some() {
+                    config_files::read_config_file(
+                        &mut engine_state,
+                        &mut stack,
+                        binary_args.config_file,
+                        is_perf_true(),
+                        false,
+                    );
+                }
+                if binary_args.env_file.is_some() {
+                    config_files::read_config_file(
+                        &mut engine_state,
+                        &mut stack,
+                        binary_args.env_file,
+                        is_perf_true(),
+                        true,
+                    );
+                }
 
                 let ret_val = evaluate_file(
                     script_name,