diff --git a/config.py b/config.py
index 55b7639..da20e66 100644
--- a/config.py
+++ b/config.py
@@ -2,15 +2,19 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 import json
 import sys
+from os import environ
 from pathlib import Path
 
 
 class Config:
     def __init__(self):
-        # global config path
-        conf_path = '/etc/ejabberd-metrics.conf'
-        self.file = Path(conf_path)
+        # class variables
         self.content = None
+        self.conf_file = Path('/etc/ejabberd-metrics.conf')
+
+        # dev config overwrite
+        if environ.get('ejabberd_metrics_dev'):
+            self.conf_file = Path('config.json')
 
         # read config file
         self._read()
@@ -20,7 +24,7 @@ class Config:
         self._check()
 
         # open and load json content from config
-        with open(self.file, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
+        with open(self.conf_file, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
             try:
                 self.content = json.load(f)
 
@@ -32,13 +36,13 @@ class Config:
     def _check(self):
         """internal method to check if the config file exists"""
         try:
-            # if file is present try to read it's contents
-            if self.file.exists():
+            # if file is present continue
+            if self.conf_file.exists():
                 return
 
             # if not create a blank file
             else:
-                Path.touch(self.file)
+                self.conf_file.touch(mode=0o640)
 
         # catch permission exceptions as this tries to write to /etc/
         except PermissionError as err:
diff --git a/config_example.json b/ejabberd-metrics.conf.default
similarity index 100%
rename from config_example.json
rename to ejabberd-metrics.conf.default