diff --git a/reclass.py.in b/reclass.py.in
index 19c0aa1..4657624 100644
--- a/reclass.py.in
+++ b/reclass.py.in
@@ -31,8 +31,10 @@
         config_file = f
         break
 try:
+    defaults = { 'pretty_print' : True, 'output' : 'yaml' }
     options = reclass.config.get_options(__name__, __version__,
-                                         __description__, config_file)
+                                         __description__, config_file,
+                                         defaults)
     nodes_uri, classes_uri = reclass.config.path_mangler(options.inventory_base_uri,
                                                             options.nodes_uri,
                                                             options.classes_uri)
diff --git a/reclass/config.py b/reclass/config.py
index a19f834..7fcb2ad 100644
--- a/reclass/config.py
+++ b/reclass/config.py
@@ -79,11 +79,10 @@
     else:
         return {}
 
-def get_options(name, version, description, config_file=None):
-    config_data = {}
+def get_options(name, version, description, config_file=None, defaults={}):
     if config_file is not None:
-        config_data.update(read_config_file(config_file))
-    parser = _make_parser(name, version, description, config_data)
+        defaults.update(read_config_file(config_file))
+    parser = _make_parser(name, version, description, defaults)
     return _parse_and_check_options(parser)
 
 def path_mangler(inventory_base_uri, nodes_uri, classes_uri):