diff --git a/gallery_dl/__init__.py b/gallery_dl/__init__.py
index 905e8520..f3d4559e 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/__init__.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/__init__.py
@@ -51,12 +51,12 @@ def sanatize_input(file):
 def main():
     try:
         initialize_logging()
-        config.load()
-
         parser = option.build_parser()
         args = parser.parse_args()
         logging.getLogger().setLevel(args.loglevel)
 
+        if args.load_config:
+            config.load()
         if args.cfgfiles:
             config.load(*args.cfgfiles, strict=True)
         if args.yamlfiles:
diff --git a/gallery_dl/option.py b/gallery_dl/option.py
index 3fd27e93..6dd14b2b 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/option.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/option.py
@@ -118,6 +118,10 @@ def build_parser():
         metavar="CFG", dest="yamlfiles", action="append",
         help="Additional configuration files (YAML format)",
     )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--ignore-config", dest="load_config", action="store_false",
+        help="Do not read the default configuration files",
+    )
     parser.add_argument(
         "-o", "--option",
         metavar="OPT", action=ParseAction, dest="options", default=[],