diff --git a/docs/using.rst b/docs/using.rst
index 951c991d2..a9a4aa958 100644
--- a/docs/using.rst
+++ b/docs/using.rst
@@ -151,6 +151,27 @@ The ``letsencrypt`` commandline tool has a builtin help:
    ./venv/bin/letsencrypt --help
 
 
+Configuration file
+------------------
+
+It is possible to specify configuration file with
+``letsencrypt --config cli.ini`` (or shorter ``-c cli.ini``). For
+instance, if you are a contributor, you might find the following
+handy:
+
+.. include:: ../examples/dev-cli.ini
+   :code: ini
+
+By default, the following locations are searched:
+
+- ``/etc/letsencrypt/cli.ini``
+- ``$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/letsencrypt/cli.ini`` (or
+  ``~/.config/letsencrypt/cli.ini`` if ``$XDG_CONFIG_HOME`` is not
+  set).
+
+.. keep it up to date with constants.py
+
+
 .. _Augeas: http://augeas.net/
 .. _M2Crypto: https://github.com/M2Crypto/M2Crypto
 .. _SWIG: http://www.swig.org/
diff --git a/examples/dev-cli.ini b/examples/dev-cli.ini
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..761bc58c9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/dev-cli.ini
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+# This is an example configuration file for developers
+config-dir = /tmp/le/conf
+work-dir = /tmp/le/conf
+logs-dir = /tmp/le/logs
+
+# make sure to use a valid email and domains!
+email = foo@example.com
+domains = example.com
+
+text = True
+agree-eula = True
+debug = True
+# Unfortunately, it's not possible to specify "verbose" multiple times
+# (correspondingly to -vvvvvv)
+verbose = True
+
+authenticator = standalone
diff --git a/letsencrypt/constants.py b/letsencrypt/constants.py
index 1c3280006..4b0a215e1 100644
--- a/letsencrypt/constants.py
+++ b/letsencrypt/constants.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 """Let's Encrypt constants."""
+import os
 import logging
 
 from acme import challenges
@@ -8,7 +9,12 @@ SETUPTOOLS_PLUGINS_ENTRY_POINT = "letsencrypt.plugins"
 """Setuptools entry point group name for plugins."""
 
 CLI_DEFAULTS = dict(
-    config_files=["/etc/letsencrypt/cli.ini"],
+    config_files=[
+        "/etc/letsencrypt/cli.ini",
+        # http://freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/xdg-user-dirs/
+        os.path.join(os.environ.get("XDG_CONFIG_HOME", "~/.config"),
+                     "letsencrypt", "cli.ini"),
+    ],
     verbose_count=-(logging.WARNING / 10),
     server="https://www.letsencrypt-demo.org/acme/new-reg",
     rsa_key_size=2048,