diff --git a/mhi/main.py b/mhi/main.py
index bf9689b..a13b365 100755
--- a/mhi/main.py
+++ b/mhi/main.py
@@ -1083,8 +1083,15 @@ def _dispatch(args):
     config.write()
     state.write()
 
+def init_config():
+    global config, state
+    cfgdir = os.environ.get('HOME', '')
+    config = ConfigObj(infile=f"{cfgdir}/.mhirc", create_empty=True)
+    state = ConfigObj(infile=f"{cfgdir}/.mhistate", create_empty=True)
+
 
 def _cmd_dispatch(args):
+    init_config()
     try:
         _dispatch(args)
     except KeyboardInterrupt:
@@ -1097,14 +1104,6 @@ def cmd_main():
     _cmd_dispatch(['mhi', cmd] + sys.argv[1:])
 
 
-def init_config():
-    global config, state
-    cfgdir = os.environ.get('HOME', '')
-    config = ConfigObj(infile=f"{cfgdir}/.mhirc", create_empty=True)
-    state = ConfigObj(infile=f"{cfgdir}/.mhistate", create_empty=True)
-
-
 def main():
-    init_config()
     # main program
     _cmd_dispatch(sys.argv)
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index ec8115a..2467b23 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [project]
 name = "mhi"
-version = "0.8.5"
+version = "0.8.6"
 requires-python = ">=3.8"
 description = "MH for IMAP"
 readme = "README.md"