diff --git a/youtube-dl b/youtube-dl
index d7e9c50c00..fa2bd4fca5 100755
--- a/youtube-dl
+++ b/youtube-dl
@@ -699,15 +699,32 @@ class FileDownloader(object):
 			self.trouble(u'ERROR: invalid system charset or erroneous output template')
 			return None
 
+	def _match_entry(self, info_dict):
+		""" Returns None iff the file should be downloaded """
+
+		title = info_dict['title']
+		matchtitle = self.params.get('matchtitle', False)
+		if matchtitle and not re.search(matchtitle, title, re.IGNORECASE):
+			return u'[download] "' + title + '" title did not match pattern "' + matchtitle + '"'
+		rejecttitle = self.params.get('rejecttitle', False)
+		if rejecttitle and re.search(rejecttitle, title, re.IGNORECASE):
+			return u'"' + title + '" title matched reject pattern "' + rejecttitle + '"'
+		return None
+
 	def process_info(self, info_dict):
 		"""Process a single dictionary returned by an InfoExtractor."""
 
+		reason = self._match_entry(info_dict)
+		if reason is not None:
+			self.to_screen(u'[download] ' + reason)
+			return
+
 		max_downloads = self.params.get('max_downloads')
 		if max_downloads is not None:
 			if self._num_downloads > int(max_downloads):
 				self.to_screen(u'[download] Maximum number of downloads reached. Skipping ' + info_dict['title'])
 				return
-		
+
 		filename = self.prepare_filename(info_dict)
 		
 		# Forced printings
@@ -731,16 +748,6 @@ class FileDownloader(object):
 		if filename is None:
 			return
 
-		matchtitle=self.params.get('matchtitle',False)
-		rejecttitle=self.params.get('rejecttitle',False)
-		title=info_dict['title'].encode(preferredencoding(), 'xmlcharrefreplace')
-		if matchtitle and not re.search(matchtitle, title, re.IGNORECASE):
-			self.to_screen(u'[download] "%s" title did not match pattern "%s"' % (title, matchtitle))
-			return
-		if rejecttitle and re.search(rejecttitle, title, re.IGNORECASE):
-			self.to_screen(u'[download] "%s" title matched reject pattern "%s"' % (title, rejecttitle))
-			return
-			
 		if self.params.get('nooverwrites', False) and os.path.exists(filename):
 			self.to_stderr(u'WARNING: file exists and will be skipped')
 			return
@@ -4118,7 +4125,12 @@ def parseOpts():
 	parser.add_option_group(authentication)
 	parser.add_option_group(postproc)
 
-	argv = _readOptions('/etc/youtube-dl.conf') + _readOptions(os.path.expanduser('~/.youtube-dl.conf')) + sys.argv[1:]
+	xdg_config_home = os.environ.get('XDG_CONFIG_HOME')
+	if xdg_config_home:
+		userConf = os.path.join(xdg_config_home, 'youtube-dl.conf')
+	else:
+		userConf = os.path.join(os.path.expanduser('~'), '.config', 'youtube-dl.conf')
+	argv = _readOptions('/etc/youtube-dl.conf') + _readOptions(userConf) + sys.argv[1:]
 	opts, args = parser.parse_args(argv)
 
 	return parser, opts, args
diff --git a/youtube_dl/__init__.py b/youtube_dl/__init__.py
index 3fba08fa48..fa2bd4fca5 100755
--- a/youtube_dl/__init__.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/__init__.py
@@ -4125,7 +4125,12 @@ def parseOpts():
 	parser.add_option_group(authentication)
 	parser.add_option_group(postproc)
 
-	argv = _readOptions('/etc/youtube-dl.conf') + _readOptions(os.path.expanduser('~/.youtube-dl.conf')) + sys.argv[1:]
+	xdg_config_home = os.environ.get('XDG_CONFIG_HOME')
+	if xdg_config_home:
+		userConf = os.path.join(xdg_config_home, 'youtube-dl.conf')
+	else:
+		userConf = os.path.join(os.path.expanduser('~'), '.config', 'youtube-dl.conf')
+	argv = _readOptions('/etc/youtube-dl.conf') + _readOptions(userConf) + sys.argv[1:]
 	opts, args = parser.parse_args(argv)
 
 	return parser, opts, args