diff --git a/piker/config.py b/piker/config.py
index 97eb4881..eae39e81 100644
--- a/piker/config.py
+++ b/piker/config.py
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ def load(
         MutableMapping,
     ] = tomllib.loads,
 
-    touch_if_dne: bool = False,
+    touch_if_dne: bool = True,
 
     **tomlkws,
 
@@ -270,7 +270,7 @@ def load(
     Load config file by name.
 
     If desired config is not in the top level piker-user config path then
-    pass the ``path: Path`` explicitly.
+    pass the `path: Path` explicitly.
 
     '''
     # create the $HOME/.config/piker dir if dne
@@ -285,7 +285,8 @@ def load(
 
     if (
         not path.is_file()
-        and touch_if_dne
+        and
+        touch_if_dne
     ):
         # only do a template if no path provided,
         # just touch an empty file with same name.