diff --git a/pkg/config/config.go b/pkg/config/config.go
index 21b8c3d00..da8c32138 100644
--- a/pkg/config/config.go
+++ b/pkg/config/config.go
@@ -113,9 +113,8 @@ func (c *Config) loadFromAirConfig(airshipConfigPath string) error {
 	c.loadedConfigPath = airshipConfigPath
 
 	// If I can read from the file, load from it
-	if _, err := os.Stat(airshipConfigPath); os.IsNotExist(err) {
-		return nil
-	} else if err != nil {
+	// throw an error otherwise
+	if _, err := os.Stat(airshipConfigPath); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
diff --git a/pkg/environment/settings.go b/pkg/environment/settings.go
index b50bc94ac..88d9a42f8 100644
--- a/pkg/environment/settings.go
+++ b/pkg/environment/settings.go
@@ -70,9 +70,9 @@ func (a *AirshipCTLSettings) InitFlags(cmd *cobra.Command) {
 func (a *AirshipCTLSettings) InitConfig() {
 	a.Config = config.NewConfig()
 
-	a.initAirshipConfigPath()
-	a.initKubeConfigPath()
-	initPluginPath()
+	a.InitAirshipConfigPath()
+	a.InitKubeConfigPath()
+	InitPluginPath()
 
 	err := a.Config.LoadConfig(a.AirshipConfigPath, a.KubeConfigPath)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -81,7 +81,8 @@ func (a *AirshipCTLSettings) InitConfig() {
 	}
 }
 
-func (a *AirshipCTLSettings) initAirshipConfigPath() {
+// InitAirshipConfigPath - Initializes AirshipConfigPath variable for Config object
+func (a *AirshipCTLSettings) InitAirshipConfigPath() {
 	// The airshipConfigPath may already have been received as a command line argument
 	if a.AirshipConfigPath != "" {
 		return
@@ -98,7 +99,8 @@ func (a *AirshipCTLSettings) initAirshipConfigPath() {
 	a.AirshipConfigPath = filepath.Join(homeDir, config.AirshipConfigDir, config.AirshipConfig)
 }
 
-func (a *AirshipCTLSettings) initKubeConfigPath() {
+// InitKubeConfigPath - Initializes KubeConfigPath variable for Config object
+func (a *AirshipCTLSettings) InitKubeConfigPath() {
 	// NOTE(howell): This function will set the kubeConfigPath to the
 	// default location under the airship directory unless the user
 	// *explicitly* specifies a different location, either by setting the
@@ -122,8 +124,8 @@ func (a *AirshipCTLSettings) initKubeConfigPath() {
 	a.KubeConfigPath = filepath.Join(homeDir, config.AirshipConfigDir, config.AirshipKubeConfig)
 }
 
-// Sets the location to look for kustomize plugins (including airshipctl itself).
-func initPluginPath() {
+// InitPluginPath - Sets the location to look for kustomize plugins (including airshipctl itself).
+func InitPluginPath() {
 	pluginPathLock.Lock()
 	defer pluginPathLock.Unlock()
 
diff --git a/pkg/environment/settings_test.go b/pkg/environment/settings_test.go
index c5895fc40..3d6adf342 100644
--- a/pkg/environment/settings_test.go
+++ b/pkg/environment/settings_test.go
@@ -49,7 +49,9 @@ func TestInitConfig(t *testing.T) {
 		expectedKubeConfig := filepath.Join(testDir, config.AirshipConfigDir, config.AirshipKubeConfig)
 		expectedPluginPath := filepath.Join(testDir, config.AirshipConfigDir, config.AirshipPluginPath)
 
-		testSettings.InitConfig()
+		testSettings.InitAirshipConfigPath()
+		testSettings.InitKubeConfigPath()
+		environment.InitPluginPath()
 		assert.Equal(t, expectedAirshipConfig, testSettings.AirshipConfigPath)
 		assert.Equal(t, expectedKubeConfig, testSettings.KubeConfigPath)
 		assert.Equal(t, expectedPluginPath, environment.PluginPath())
@@ -73,7 +75,9 @@ func TestInitConfig(t *testing.T) {
 		defer os.Unsetenv(config.AirshipKubeConfigEnv)
 		defer os.Unsetenv(config.AirshipPluginPathEnv)
 
-		testSettings.InitConfig()
+		testSettings.InitAirshipConfigPath()
+		testSettings.InitKubeConfigPath()
+		environment.InitPluginPath()
 		assert.Equal(t, expectedAirshipConfig, testSettings.AirshipConfigPath)
 		assert.Equal(t, expectedKubeConfig, testSettings.KubeConfigPath)
 		assert.Equal(t, expectedPluginPath, environment.PluginPath())
@@ -93,8 +97,8 @@ func TestInitConfig(t *testing.T) {
 			KubeConfigPath:    expectedKubeConfig,
 		}
 
-		// InitConfig should not change any values
-		testSettings.InitConfig()
+		testSettings.InitAirshipConfigPath()
+		testSettings.InitKubeConfigPath()
 		assert.Equal(t, expectedAirshipConfig, testSettings.AirshipConfigPath)
 		assert.Equal(t, expectedKubeConfig, testSettings.KubeConfigPath)
 	})
@@ -123,7 +127,8 @@ func TestInitConfig(t *testing.T) {
 			KubeConfigPath:    expectedKubeConfig,
 		}
 
-		testSettings.InitConfig()
+		testSettings.InitAirshipConfigPath()
+		testSettings.InitKubeConfigPath()
 		assert.Equal(t, expectedAirshipConfig, testSettings.AirshipConfigPath)
 		assert.Equal(t, expectedKubeConfig, testSettings.KubeConfigPath)
 	})