diff --git a/jinjabread/config.py b/jinjabread/config.py
index cefdd7b..3c4ec84 100644
--- a/jinjabread/config.py
+++ b/jinjabread/config.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ def load(cls, *, project_dir=None, config_file=None):
         suppress_missing_config_file_error = config_file is None
 
         project_dir = Path(project_dir or ".")
-        config_file = Path(config_file or CONFIG_FILENAME)
+        config_file = project_dir / Path(config_file or CONFIG_FILENAME)
 
         with (Path(__file__).parent / "defaults.toml").open("rb") as file:
             data = tomllib.load(file)