diff --git a/src/arguments.rs b/src/arguments.rs
index 774c2ce..3137034 100644
--- a/src/arguments.rs
+++ b/src/arguments.rs
@@ -11,4 +11,8 @@ pub struct Arguments {
 	/// the input files to edit
 	#[arg(value_name = "files")]
 	pub files: Vec<PathBuf>,
+	
+	/// print the path to the config file
+	#[arg(short, long)]
+	pub show_config_path: bool,
 }
diff --git a/src/config.rs b/src/config.rs
index 0889150..b62f7e2 100644
--- a/src/config.rs
+++ b/src/config.rs
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ pub struct Keypress {
 
 impl Config {
 	#[cfg(unix)]
-	fn path() -> Option<PathBuf> {
+	fn default_path() -> Option<PathBuf> {
 		env::var_os("XDG_CONFIG_HOME")
 			.map(PathBuf::from)
 			.take_if(|xdg_config_home| xdg_config_home.is_absolute())
@@ -43,14 +43,17 @@ impl Config {
 	}
 	
 	#[cfg(windows)]
-	fn path() -> Option<PathBuf> {
+	fn default_path() -> Option<PathBuf> {
 		// this isn't technically the right way but it should be good enough
 		home_dir().map(|home| home.join("AppData").join("Roaming"))
 	}
 	
+	pub fn path(override_path: Option<PathBuf>) -> Option<PathBuf> {
+		override_path.or_else(Self::default_path)
+	}
+	
 	pub fn init(override_path: Option<PathBuf>) -> Result<Self, ConfigInitError> {
-		let path = override_path
-			.or_else(Self::path)
+		let path = Self::path(override_path)
 			.ok_or(ConfigInitError::NoConfigPath)?;
 		
 		let raw_config = read_to_string(path)?;
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index b88811d..139246e 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ use clap::Parser;
 use app::App;
 use crossterm::{QueueableCommand, event::{DisableMouseCapture, EnableMouseCapture}};
 
+use crate::config::Config;
+
 mod app;
 mod buffer;
 mod popup;
@@ -33,12 +35,12 @@ const LINES_OF_PADDING: usize = 5;
 const BYTES_OF_PADDING: usize = LINES_OF_PADDING * BYTES_PER_LINE;
 
 // TODO:
-// - update showcase
 // - write docs
 //   - simonomi.dev/hexapoda?
 //   - config
 //     - schema!!
 //   - uhhhhh?
+// - update showcase
 // - fix scroll clamping
 // - inspector translations for varint
 // - search
@@ -71,6 +73,20 @@ const BYTES_OF_PADDING: usize = LINES_OF_PADDING * BYTES_PER_LINE;
 fn main() {
 	let arguments = Arguments::parse();
 	
+	if arguments.show_config_path {
+		if let Some(path) = Config::path(arguments.config) {
+			println!("{}", path.display());
+		} else {
+			#[cfg(unix)] {
+				println!("currently, no config file will be used. define the environment variable XDG_CONFIG_HOME or use the -c/--config option to provide one");
+			}
+			#[cfg(windows)] {
+				println!("currently, no config file will be used. use the -c/--config option to provide one");
+			}
+		}
+		return;
+	}
+	
 	let mut app = App::new(
 		arguments.config,
 		&arguments.files