diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 5352166f..7d0ce9c6 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -59,10 +59,10 @@ CLEANFILES    += defconfig.h
 BUILT_SOURCES += defconfig.h
 defconfig.h: awesomerc
 	@echo "generating defconfig.h from awesomerc"
-	@echo "#define AWESOME_DEFAULT_CONFIG \\" > defconfig.h
+	@echo "static const char *AWESOME_DEFAULT_CONFIG = " > defconfig.h
 	@echo -n "\"" >> defconfig.h
-	@$(SED) 's,\\,\\\\,g;s/$$/ \\/;s/"/\\"/g' "awesomerc" >> defconfig.h
-	@echo "\"" >> defconfig.h
+	@$(SED) 's,\\,\\\\,g;s/$$/ \\n\\/;s/"/\\"/g' "awesomerc" >> defconfig.h
+	@echo "\";" >> defconfig.h
 
 CLEANFILES    += uicbgen.h
 BUILT_SOURCES += uicbgen.h
diff --git a/config.c b/config.c
index dcfa0122..3f1549b9 100644
--- a/config.c
+++ b/config.c
@@ -533,7 +533,7 @@ config_parse(const char *confpatharg)
 
     if(defconfig)
     {
-        cfg_print(cfg, defconfig);
+        fwrite(AWESOME_DEFAULT_CONFIG, a_strlen(AWESOME_DEFAULT_CONFIG), 1, defconfig);
         fclose(defconfig);
     }