diff --git a/futility/cmd_vbutil_kernel.c b/futility/cmd_vbutil_kernel.c
index cdd4492..d1ad417 100644
--- a/futility/cmd_vbutil_kernel.c
+++ b/futility/cmd_vbutil_kernel.c
@@ -411,14 +411,11 @@
 		if (!signpriv_key)
 			Fatal("Error reading signing key.\n");
 
-		if (!config_file)
-			Fatal("Missing required config file.\n");
-
 		Debug("Reading %s\n", config_file);
 		t_config_data =
 			ReadConfigFile(config_file, &t_config_size);
 		if (!t_config_data)
-			Fatal("Error reading config file.\n");
+			t_config_data = malloc(0);
 
 		if (!bootloader_file)
 			Fatal("Missing required bootloader file.\n");