diff --git a/pronsole.py b/pronsole.py
index 7e15d4f..e505977 100755
--- a/pronsole.py
+++ b/pronsole.py
@@ -313,7 +313,8 @@ class pronsole(cmd.Cmd):
             except IOError:
                 self.load_rc(rc_filename)
         except IOError:
-            pass
+            # make sure the filename is initialized
+            self.rc_filename = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.path.expanduser("~"),rc_filename))
     
     def save_in_rc(self,key,definition):
         """