diff --git a/src/errors.rs b/src/errors.rs
index bb6900e..45363e5 100644
--- a/src/errors.rs
+++ b/src/errors.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ pub type LJResult<T> = Result<T, Box<dyn std::error::Error>>;
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub enum LJError {
-    ConfigFileMissing,
     RedisConnect(RedisError),
     HeliosDeviceMissing
 }
@@ -16,10 +15,6 @@ impl fmt::Display for LJError {
 	use LJError::*;
 	
 	match self {
-	    ConfigFileMissing => {
-		write!(f, "first argument must be a TOML config file \
-			   (see copyme.Settings.toml)")
-	    },
 	    RedisConnect(err) => {
 		write!(f, "unable to connect to redis server: {err}")
 	    },
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 498ff2a..3b76adb 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ use errors::{LJError,LJResult};
 use point::Point;
 use transformer::{Transformers,Translate,Replicate};
 
+const DEFAULT_CONF_FILE : &str = "settings.toml";
 const CENTER : (f32,f32) = (2000.0, 2000.0);
 
 pub fn main() {
@@ -35,9 +36,10 @@ pub fn main() {
 }
 
 fn run_all() -> LJResult<()> {
-    let Some(filename) = std::env::args().nth(1) else {
-	return Err(Box::new(LJError::ConfigFileMissing));
-    };    
+    let filename = std::env::args().nth(1).unwrap_or_else(|| {
+	DEFAULT_CONF_FILE.to_string()
+    });
+    
     let config = Conf::new(&filename)?;
     let mut rs = RedisCtrl::new(&config.redis_url)?;