diff --git a/Changes b/Changes
index a0e33b4..4a6a635 100644
--- a/Changes
+++ b/Changes
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 Revision history for CPAN-Mini
 
 {{$NEXT}}
+          if the config file does not exist, do not die or spew warnings; this
+          fixes RT #57388
 
 1.100630  2010-03-04 07:57:34 America/New_York
           suppress "using config..." during setup with -qq
diff --git a/lib/CPAN/Mini.pm b/lib/CPAN/Mini.pm
index 60330bb..09d8075 100644
--- a/lib/CPAN/Mini.pm
+++ b/lib/CPAN/Mini.pm
@@ -646,11 +646,15 @@ sub read_config {
 
   my $config_file = $class->config_file($options);
 
+  return unless defined $config_file;
+
   # This is ugly, but lets us respect -qq for now even before we have an
   # object.  I think a better fix is warranted. -- rjbs, 2010-03-04
   $class->trace("Using config from $config_file\n")
     unless $options->{quiet};
 
+  return unless -e $config_file;
+
   open my $config_fh, '<', $config_file
     or die "couldn't open config file $config_file: $!";