diff --git a/internal/home/home.go b/internal/home/home.go
index aab8eadb38f..8060467a0ac 100644
--- a/internal/home/home.go
+++ b/internal/home/home.go
@@ -760,7 +760,8 @@ func writePIDFile(fn string) bool {
 }
 
 // initConfigFilename sets up context config file path.  This file path can be
-// overridden by command-line arguments, or is set to default.
+// overridden by command-line arguments, or is set to default.  Must only be
+// called after initializing the workDir with initWorkingDir.
 func initConfigFilename(opts options) {
 	confPath := opts.confFilename
 	if confPath == "" {
diff --git a/internal/home/service.go b/internal/home/service.go
index 3e153f53625..cb8f9b8bb1f 100644
--- a/internal/home/service.go
+++ b/internal/home/service.go
@@ -274,6 +274,7 @@ func handleServiceCommand(s service.Service, action string, opts options) (err e
 		if err = initWorkingDir(opts); err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("failed to init working dir: %w", err)
 		}
+
 		initConfigFilename(opts)
 
 		handleServiceInstallCommand(s)