diff --git a/config.c b/config.c
index 94bd7eee1..462eb58c5 100644
--- a/config.c
+++ b/config.c
@@ -328,7 +328,10 @@ parse_config(const char *confpatharg, awesome_config *awesomeconf)
 
     ret = cfg_parse(cfg, confpath);
     if(ret == CFG_FILE_ERROR)
+    {
         perror("awesome: parsing configuration file failed");
+        cfg_parse_buf(cfg, AWESOME_DEFAULT_CONFIG);
+    }
     else if(ret == CFG_PARSE_ERROR)
         cfg_error(cfg, "awesome: parsing configuration file %s failed.\n", confpath);
 
@@ -338,6 +341,13 @@ parse_config(const char *confpatharg, awesome_config *awesomeconf)
     if(!cfg_screen)
         cfg_screen = cfg_getsec(cfg, "screen");
 
+    if(!cfg_screen)
+    {
+        fprintf(stderr, "awesome: parsing configuration file failed, no screen section found");
+        cfg_parse_buf(cfg, AWESOME_DEFAULT_CONFIG);
+        cfg_screen = cfg_getsec(cfg, "screen");
+    }
+
     /* get screen specific sections */
     cfg_statusbar = cfg_getsec(cfg_screen, "statusbar");
     cfg_tags = cfg_getsec(cfg_screen, "tags");
diff --git a/config.h b/config.h
index 7c3ad3e56..3fa0f1c4f 100644
--- a/config.h
+++ b/config.h
@@ -233,6 +233,564 @@ struct awesome_config
     char *configpath;
 };
 
+#define AWESOME_DEFAULT_CONFIG \
+"screen 0 \
+{ \
+    tags \
+    { \
+        tag one { } \
+        tag two { } \
+        tag three { } \
+        tag four { } \
+        tag five { } \
+        tag six { } \
+        tag seven { } \
+        tag eight { } \
+        tag nine { } \
+    } \
+    layouts \
+    { \
+        layout tile { symbol = \"[]=\" } \
+        layout tileleft { symbol = \"=[]\" } \
+        layout max { symbol = \"[ ]\" } \
+        layout floating { symbol = \"><>\" } \
+    } \
+} \
+ \
+mouse \
+{ \
+    tag \
+    { \
+        button = \"1\" \
+        command = \"tag_view\" \
+    } \
+    tag \
+    { \
+        button = \"1\" \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
+        command = \"client_tag\" \
+    } \
+    tag \
+    { \
+        button = \"3\" \
+        command = \"tag_toggleview\" \
+    } \
+    tag \
+    { \
+        button = \"3\" \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
+        command = \"client_toggletag\" \
+    } \
+    tag \
+    { \
+        button = \"4\" \
+        command = \"tag_viewnext\" \
+    } \
+    tag \
+    { \
+        button = \"5\" \
+        command = \"tag_viewprev\" \
+    } \
+    # For click on layout symbol \
+    layout \
+    { \
+        button = \"1\" \
+        command = \"tag_setlayout\" \
+        arg = \"+1\" \
+    } \
+    layout \
+    { \
+        button = \"4\" \
+        command = \"tag_setlayout\" \
+        arg = \"+1\" \
+    } \
+    layout \
+    { \
+        button = \"3\" \
+        command = \"tag_setlayout\" \
+        arg = \"-1\" \
+    } \
+    layout \
+    { \
+        button = \"5\" \
+        command = \"tag_setlayout\" \
+        arg = \"-1\" \
+    } \
+    root \
+    { \
+        button = \"3\" \
+        command = \"spawn\" \
+        arg = \"exec urxvt\" \
+    } \
+    root \
+    { \
+        button = \"4\" \
+        command = \"tag_viewnext\" \
+    } \
+    root \
+    { \
+        button = \"5\" \
+        command = \"tag_viewprev\" \
+    } \
+    client \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
+        button = \"1\" \
+        command = \"client_movemouse\" \
+    } \
+    client \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
+        button = \"2\" \
+        command = \"client_zoom\" \
+    } \
+    client \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
+        button = \"3\" \
+        command = \"client_resizemouse\" \
+    } \
+} \
+ \
+keys \
+{ \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
+        key = \"Return\" \
+        command = \"spawn\" \
+        arg = \"exec xterm\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
+        key = \"space\" \
+        command = \"tag_setlayout\" \
+        arg = \"+1\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\"} \
+        key = \"space\" \
+        command = \"tag_setlayout\" \
+        arg = \"-1\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
+        key = \"b\" \
+        command = \"togglebar\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
+        key = \"j\" \
+        command = \"client_focusnext\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
+        key = \"k\" \
+        command = \"client_focusprev\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\"} \
+        key = \"j\" \
+        command = \"client_swapnext\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\"} \
+        key = \"k\" \
+        command = \"client_swapprev\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Control\"} \
+        key = \"j\" \
+        command = \"screen_focusnext\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Control\"} \
+        key = \"k\" \
+        command = \"screen_focusprev\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
+        key = \"h\" \
+        command = \"tag_setmwfact\" \
+        arg = \"-0.05\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
+        key = \"l\" \
+        command = \"tag_setmwfact\" \
+        arg = \"+0.05\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\"} \
+        key = \"h\" \
+        command = \"tag_setnmaster\" \
+        arg = \"+1\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\"} \
+        key = \"l\" \
+        command = \"tag_setnmaster\" \
+        arg = \"-1\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Control\"} \
+        key = \"h\" \
+        command = \"tag_setncol\" \
+        arg = \"+1\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Control\"} \
+        key = \"l\" \
+        command = \"tag_setncol\" \
+        arg = \"-1\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
+        key = \"Escape\" \
+        command = \"tag_viewprev_selected\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
+        key = \"Left\" \
+        command = \"tag_viewprev\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
+        key = \"Right\" \
+        command = \"tag_viewnext\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
+        key = \"m\" \
+        command = \"client_togglemax\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Control\"} \
+        key = \"Return\" \
+        command = \"client_zoom\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Control\"} \
+        key = \"space\" \
+        command = \"client_togglefloating\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\"} \
+        key = \"c\" \
+        command = \"client_kill\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\"} \
+        key = \"q\" \
+        command = \"quit\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Control\"} \
+        key = \"r\" \
+        command = \"reloadconfig\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+       modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
+       key = \"0\" \
+       command = \"tag_view\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
+        key = \"1\" \
+        command = \"tag_view\" \
+        arg = \"1\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
+        key = \"2\" \
+        command = \"tag_view\" \
+        arg = \"2\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
+        key = \"3\" \
+        command = \"tag_view\" \
+        arg = \"3\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
+        key = \"4\" \
+        command = \"tag_view\" \
+        arg = \"4\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
+        key = \"5\" \
+        command = \"tag_view\" \
+        arg = \"5\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
+        key = \"6\" \
+        command = \"tag_view\" \
+        arg = \"6\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
+        key = \"7\" \
+        command = \"tag_view\" \
+        arg = \"7\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
+        key = \"8\" \
+        command = \"tag_view\" \
+        arg = \"8\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\"} \
+        key = \"9\" \
+        command = \"tag_view\" \
+        arg = \"9\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Control\"} \
+        key = \"0\" \
+        command = \"tag_toggleview\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Control\"} \
+        key = \"1\" \
+        command = \"tag_toggleview\" \
+        arg = \"1\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Control\"} \
+        key = \"2\" \
+        command = \"tag_toggleview\" \
+        arg = \"2\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Control\"} \
+        key = \"3\" \
+        command = \"tag_toggleview\" \
+        arg = \"3\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Control\"} \
+        key = \"4\" \
+        command = \"tag_toggleview\" \
+        arg = \"4\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Control\"} \
+        key = \"5\" \
+        command = \"tag_toggleview\" \
+        arg = \"5\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Control\"} \
+        key = \"6\" \
+        command = \"tag_toggleview\" \
+        arg = \"6\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Control\"} \
+        key = \"7\" \
+        command = \"tag_toggleview\" \
+        arg = \"7\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Control\"} \
+        key = \"8\" \
+        command = \"tag_toggleview\" \
+        arg = \"8\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Control\"} \
+        key = \"9\" \
+        command = \"tag_toggleview\" \
+        arg = \"9\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\"} \
+        key = \"0\" \
+        command = \"client_tag\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\"} \
+        key = \"1\" \
+        command = \"client_tag\" \
+        arg = \"1\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\"} \
+        key = \"2\" \
+        command = \"client_tag\" \
+        arg = \"2\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\"} \
+        key = \"3\" \
+        command = \"client_tag\" \
+        arg = \"3\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\"} \
+        key = \"4\" \
+        command = \"client_tag\" \
+        arg = \"4\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\"} \
+        key = \"5\" \
+        command = \"client_tag\" \
+        arg = \"5\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\"} \
+        key = \"6\" \
+        command = \"client_tag\" \
+        arg = \"6\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\"} \
+        key = \"7\" \
+        command = \"client_tag\" \
+        arg = \"7\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\"} \
+        key = \"8\" \
+        command = \"client_tag\" \
+        arg = \"8\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\"} \
+        key = \"9\" \
+        command = \"client_tag\" \
+        arg = \"9\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\", \"Control\"} \
+        key = \"0\" \
+        command = \"client_toggletag\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\", \"Control\"} \
+        key = \"1\" \
+        command = \"client_toggletag\" \
+        arg = \"1\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\", \"Control\"} \
+        key = \"2\" \
+        command = \"client_toggletag\" \
+        arg = \"2\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\", \"Control\"} \
+        key = \"3\" \
+        command = \"client_toggletag\" \
+        arg = \"3\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\", \"Control\"} \
+        key = \"4\" \
+        command = \"client_toggletag\" \
+        arg = \"4\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\", \"Control\"} \
+        key = \"5\" \
+        command = \"client_toggletag\" \
+        arg = \"5\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\", \"Control\"} \
+        key = \"6\" \
+        command = \"client_toggletag\" \
+        arg = \"6\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\", \"Control\"} \
+        key = \"7\" \
+        command = \"client_toggletag\" \
+        arg = \"7\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\", \"Control\"} \
+        key = \"8\" \
+        command = \"client_toggletag\" \
+        arg = \"8\" \
+    } \
+    key \
+    { \
+        modkey = {\"Mod4\", \"Shift\", \"Control\"} \
+        key = \"9\" \
+        command = \"client_toggletag\" \
+        arg = \"9\" \
+    } \
+}"
+
 void parse_config(const char *, awesome_config *);
 
 void uicb_reloadconfig(awesome_config *, const char *);