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diff --git a/task.py b/task.py
index 53cc8ed..9b84424 100644
--- a/task.py
+++ b/task.py
@@ -3,19 +3,30 @@
 
 import argparse
 import sys
+import json
 from pathlib import Path
 
 from commands.add import add_task
 from commands.list import list_tasks
 from commands.done import mark_done
 
+DEFAULT_CONFIG = {"tasks_file": "tasks.json", "verbose": False}
+
 
 def load_config():
-    """Load configuration from file."""
+    """Load configuration from file, creating default if missing."""
     config_path = Path.home() / ".config" / "task-cli" / "config.yaml"
-    # NOTE: This will crash if config doesn't exist - known bug for bounty testing
-    with open(config_path) as f:
-        return f.read()
+    if not config_path.exists():
+        config_path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        config_path.write_text(json.dumps(DEFAULT_CONFIG, indent=2))
+        print(f"Created default config at {config_path}", file=sys.stderr)
+        return DEFAULT_CONFIG
+    try:
+        with open(config_path) as f:
+            return json.load(f) or DEFAULT_CONFIG
+    except (json.JSONDecodeError, OSError) as e:
+        print(f"Error reading config: {e}. Using defaults.", file=sys.stderr)
+        return DEFAULT_CONFIG
 
 
 def main():
diff --git a/test_task.py b/test_task.py
index ba98e43..1ce7a97 100644
--- a/test_task.py
+++ b/test_task.py
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
 """Basic tests for task CLI."""
 
 import json
+import os
 import pytest
 from pathlib import Path
 from commands.add import add_task, validate_description
 from commands.done import validate_task_id
+from task import load_config
 
 
 def test_validate_description():
@@ -28,3 +30,24 @@ def test_validate_task_id():
 
     with pytest.raises(ValueError):
         validate_task_id(tasks, 99)
+
+
+def test_load_config_missing_file(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    """Config file missing: auto-create default without crashing."""
+    fake_home = tmp_path / "home"
+    monkeypatch.setattr(Path, "home", lambda: fake_home)
+    config = load_config()
+    assert config == {"tasks_file": "tasks.json", "verbose": False}
+    config_file = fake_home / ".config" / "task-cli" / "config.yaml"
+    assert config_file.exists()
+
+
+def test_load_config_corrupt_file(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    """Malformed config file: return defaults without crashing."""
+    fake_home = tmp_path / "home"
+    config_dir = fake_home / ".config" / "task-cli"
+    config_dir.mkdir(parents=True)
+    (config_dir / "config.yaml").write_text("{{{not valid json")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(Path, "home", lambda: fake_home)
+    config = load_config()
+    assert config == {"tasks_file": "tasks.json", "verbose": False}