diff --git a/edbob/commands.py b/edbob/commands.py
index 00fc31b..9d19cc1 100644
--- a/edbob/commands.py
+++ b/edbob/commands.py
@@ -159,10 +159,10 @@ Try '%(name)s help <command>' for more help.""" % self
             self.print_help()
             return
 
+        # Basic logging should be established before init()ing.
+
         # Use root logger if setting logging flags.
         log = logging.getLogger()
-
-        # Basic logging should be established before init()ing.
         edbob.basic_logging()
         if args.verbose:
             log.setLevel(logging.INFO)
@@ -444,7 +444,7 @@ class ShellCommand(Subcommand):
         code = ['import edbob']
         if edbob.inited:
             code.append("edbob.init('edbob', %s, shell=True)" %
-                        edbob.config.paths_attempted)
+                        edbob.config.paths_loaded)
         code.append('from edbob import *')
         code = '; '.join(code)
         print "edbob v%s launching Python shell...\n" % edbob.__version__
diff --git a/edbob/configuration.py b/edbob/configuration.py
index 9b2880a..52554ac 100644
--- a/edbob/configuration.py
+++ b/edbob/configuration.py
@@ -229,6 +229,9 @@ class AppConfigParser(ConfigParser.SafeConfigParser):
         See :meth:`read()` for more information.
         """
 
+        if path in self.paths_attempted:
+            return
+
         self.paths_attempted.append(path)
         log.debug("Reading config file: %s" % path)
         if not os.path.exists(path):