diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a1928af4..54d63501 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -113,29 +113,7 @@ Just run `topgrade`. It will run the following steps:
   * **FreeBSD**: Run `freebsd-upgrade`
 
 ## Customization
-Here's an example for a configuration file:
-
-
-``` toml
-git_repos = [
-    "~/src/*/",
-    "~/.config/something"
-]
-
-# Same options as the command line flag
-disable = ["system", "emacs"]
-
-[pre_commands]
-"Emacs Snapshot" = "rm -rf ~/.emacs.d/elpa.bak && cp -rl ~/.emacs.d/elpa ~/.emacs.d/elpa.bak"
-
-[commands]
-"Python Environment" = "~/dev/.env/bin/pip install -i https://pypi.python.org/simple -U --upgrade-strategy eager jupyter"
-```
-* `git_repos` - A list of custom Git repositories to pull
-* `pre_commands` - Commands to execute before starting any action. If any command fails, Topgrade
-  will not proceed
-* `commands` - Custom upgrade steps. If any command fails it will be reported in the summary as all
-  upgrade steps are reported, but it will not cause Topgrade to stop.
+See `config.example.toml` for an example configuration file.
 
 ### Configuration path
 
diff --git a/config.example.toml b/config.example.toml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2319bfb9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config.example.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# Additional git repositories to pull
+#git_repos = [
+#    "~/src/*/",
+#    "~/.config/something"
+#]
+
+# Same options as the command line flag
+#disable = ["system", "emacs"]
+
+# List of remote machines with Topgrade installed on them
+#remote_topgrades = ["toothless", "pi", "parnas"]
+
+# Commands to run before anything
+#[pre_commands]
+#"Emacs Snapshot" = "rm -rf ~/.emacs.d/elpa.bak && cp -rl ~/.emacs.d/elpa ~/.emacs.d/elpa.bak"
+
+# Custom commands
+#[commands]
+#"Python Environment" = "~/dev/.env/bin/pip install -i https://pypi.python.org/simple -U --upgrade-strategy eager jupyter"
diff --git a/src/config.rs b/src/config.rs
index cc32007e..1cf0d5c6 100644
--- a/src/config.rs
+++ b/src/config.rs
@@ -2,9 +2,12 @@ use super::error::{Error, ErrorKind};
 use directories::BaseDirs;
 use failure::ResultExt;
 use lazy_static::lazy_static;
+use log::{debug, error, LevelFilter};
+use pretty_env_logger::formatted_timed_builder;
 use serde::Deserialize;
 use shellexpand;
 use std::collections::{BTreeMap, HashMap};
+use std::fs::write;
 use std::{env, fs};
 use structopt::StructOpt;
 use toml;
@@ -72,7 +75,7 @@ impl std::str::FromStr for Step {
     }
 }
 
-#[derive(Deserialize, Default)]
+#[derive(Deserialize, Default, Debug)]
 #[serde(deny_unknown_fields)]
 /// Configuration file
 pub struct ConfigFile {
@@ -90,6 +93,16 @@ impl ConfigFile {
     fn read(base_dirs: &BaseDirs) -> Result<ConfigFile, Error> {
         let config_path = base_dirs.config_dir().join("topgrade.toml");
         if !config_path.exists() {
+            write(&config_path, include_str!("../config.example.toml"))
+                .map_err(|e| {
+                    error!(
+                        "Unable to write the example configuration file to {}: {}",
+                        config_path.display(),
+                        e
+                    );
+                })
+                .ok();
+            debug!("No configuration exists");
             return Ok(Default::default());
         }
 
@@ -102,6 +115,8 @@ impl ConfigFile {
             }
         }
 
+        debug!("Loaded configuration: {:?}", result);
+
         Ok(result)
     }
 }
@@ -154,8 +169,18 @@ impl Config {
     ///
     /// The function parses the command line arguments and reading the configuration file.
     pub fn load(base_dirs: &BaseDirs) -> Result<Self, Error> {
+        let opt = CommandLineArgs::from_args();
+
+        let mut builder = formatted_timed_builder();
+
+        if opt.verbose {
+            builder.filter(Some("topgrade"), LevelFilter::Trace);
+        }
+
+        builder.init();
+
         Ok(Self {
-            opt: CommandLineArgs::from_args(),
+            opt,
             config_file: ConfigFile::read(base_dirs)?,
         })
     }
@@ -210,11 +235,6 @@ impl Config {
         self.opt.no_retry
     }
 
-    /// Tell whether we should print log.
-    pub fn verbose(&self) -> bool {
-        self.opt.verbose
-    }
-
     /// List of remote hosts to run Topgrade in
     pub fn remote_topgrades(&self) -> &Option<Vec<String>> {
         &self.config_file.remote_topgrades
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index b7e7165d..e47c51ff 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -16,10 +16,9 @@ use self::report::Report;
 use self::steps::*;
 use self::terminal::*;
 use failure::{Fail, ResultExt};
-use log::{debug, LevelFilter};
+use log::debug;
 #[cfg(feature = "self-update")]
 use openssl_probe;
-use pretty_env_logger::formatted_timed_builder;
 use std::borrow::Cow;
 use std::env;
 use std::fmt::Debug;
@@ -75,14 +74,6 @@ fn run() -> Result<(), Error> {
         }
     }
 
-    let mut builder = formatted_timed_builder();
-
-    if config.verbose() {
-        builder.filter(Some("topgrade"), LevelFilter::Trace);
-    }
-
-    builder.init();
-
     let git = git::Git::new();
     let mut git_repos = git::Repositories::new(&git);