diff --git a/scripts/hall.in b/scripts/hall.in
index d14269e..71da3d7 100644
--- a/scripts/hall.in
+++ b/scripts/hall.in
@@ -149,8 +149,7 @@ distribution file.")
 create a new project.  You can use a number of arguments (see above) to
 provide additional metadata — but the project name is mandatory.
 
-Defaults for the author, prefix, website & license arguments can be set in the
-~/.hall configuration file.
+Defaults for the author, prefix, website & license arguments can be set in ~/.hall or ~/.config/hall/hall.
 
 '--convert' can be used when you have an existing project that you want to
 start using hall for.
@@ -221,7 +220,12 @@ first.")
          (handler (cut string-split <> #\,))
          (synopsis "CSV list regexp patterns to indicate files to skip.")
          (example "scripts/foo,AUTHORS,^.*rgp$")))))))
-   (directory (in-home "."))
+   (directory (list
+	       (path (given (string-append (let ((xdg (getenv "XDG_CONFIG_HOME")))
+					       (if (> (string-length xdg) 0)
+						   xdg
+						   (string-append (getenv "HOME") "/.config"))) "/hall/"))
+		     (eager? #t))))
    (parser simple-sexp-parser)))
 
 (define* (main #:optional (args (command-line)))