diff --git a/index.ts b/index.ts
index abe7d23..7d6f0b6 100644
--- a/index.ts
+++ b/index.ts
@@ -24,15 +24,17 @@ const { values: args, positionals } = parseArgs({
 });
 
 async function main() {
+  const config = await loadConfig();
+
   const newConvo = args.new ?? args.n;
   const plainOut = args.plainOut ?? args.plain ?? !process.stdout.isTTY;
   const plainErr = args.plainErr ?? args.plain ?? !process.stderr.isTTY;
   const modelFlag = args.model ?? args.m;
   const saveConfigFlag = args.save ?? args.s;
 
-  const config = await loadConfig();
+  const model = modelFlag ?? config.model;
 
-  if (!config.model) {
+  if (!model) {
     console.error(
       "Please run 'lmc --model <model> --save' to set a default model.",
     );
@@ -54,7 +56,7 @@ async function main() {
     includeUsage: true, // Include usage information in streaming responses
   });
 
-  const convo = new Conversation(modelFlag ?? config.model);
+  const convo = new Conversation(model);
 
   if (!newConvo) {
     await convo.load();