diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 7b6cf63f769e..4f67e54ea039 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -52,13 +52,13 @@ init:
 run:
 	mkdir -p logs
 	mkdir -p /tmp/cores/
-	$$(which openresty) -p $$PWD/
+	$$(which openresty) -p $$PWD/ -c $$PWD/conf/nginx.conf
 
 
 ### stop:         Stop the apisix server
 .PHONY: stop
 stop:
-	$$(which openresty) -p $$PWD/ -s stop
+	$$(which openresty) -p $$PWD/ -c $$PWD/conf/nginx.conf -s stop
 
 
 ### clean:        Remove generated files
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ clean:
 ### reload:       Reload the apisix server
 .PHONY: reload
 reload:
-	$$(which openresty) -p $$PWD/ -s reload
+	$$(which openresty) -p $$PWD/  -c $$PWD/conf/nginx.conf -s reload
 
 
 ### install:      Install the apisix
diff --git a/bin/apisix b/bin/apisix
index 8e539b02e3b2..c757e5c60cee 100755
--- a/bin/apisix
+++ b/bin/apisix
@@ -331,8 +331,8 @@ function _M.start(...)
     init(...)
     init_etcd(...)
 
-    -- print([[openresty -p ]] .. apisix_home)
-    os.execute([[openresty -p ]] .. apisix_home)
+    -- print([[openresty -p ]] .. apisix_home .. [[ -c ]] .. apisix_home .. "/conf/nginx.conf")
+    os.execute([[openresty -p ]] .. apisix_home .. [[ -c ]] .. apisix_home .. "/conf/nginx.conf")
 end
 
 function _M.stop()