diff --git a/src/openalpr/config.cpp b/src/openalpr/config.cpp
index 14d368e..628f89b 100644
--- a/src/openalpr/config.cpp
+++ b/src/openalpr/config.cpp
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ namespace alpr
     }
 
 
-    if (fileExists(config_file_path.c_str()) == false)
+    if (fileExists(config_file_path.c_str()) == false && fileExists(CONFIG_FILE_TEMPLATE_LOCATION) == false)
     {
       std::cerr << "--(!) Config file '" << config_file_path << "' does not exist!" << endl;
       std::cerr << "--(!)             You can specify the configuration file location via the command line " << endl;
diff --git a/src/openalpr/config_helper.cpp b/src/openalpr/config_helper.cpp
index 5310d75..ae1ff17 100644
--- a/src/openalpr/config_helper.cpp
+++ b/src/openalpr/config_helper.cpp
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ namespace alpr
 
   int getInt(CSimpleIniA* ini, CSimpleIniA* defaultIni, std::string section, std::string key, int defaultValue)
   {
-    if (hasValue(ini, section, key))
+    if (ini != NULL && hasValue(ini, section, key))
       return getInt(ini, section, key, defaultValue);
     
     if (defaultIni != NULL && hasValue(defaultIni, section, key))
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ namespace alpr
   }
   float getFloat(CSimpleIniA* ini, CSimpleIniA* defaultIni, std::string section, std::string key, float defaultValue)
   {
-    if (hasValue(ini, section, key))
+    if (ini != NULL && hasValue(ini, section, key))
       return getFloat(ini, section, key, defaultValue);
     
     if (defaultIni != NULL && hasValue(defaultIni, section, key))
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ namespace alpr
   }
   std::string getString(CSimpleIniA* ini, CSimpleIniA* defaultIni, std::string section, std::string key, std::string defaultValue)
   {
-     if (hasValue(ini, section, key))
+     if (ini != NULL && hasValue(ini, section, key))
       return getString(ini, section, key, defaultValue);
     
     if (defaultIni != NULL && hasValue(defaultIni, section, key))
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ namespace alpr
   }
   bool getBoolean(CSimpleIniA* ini, CSimpleIniA* defaultIni, std::string section, std::string key, bool defaultValue)
   {
-     if (hasValue(ini, section, key))
+     if (ini != NULL && hasValue(ini, section, key))
       return getBoolean(ini, section, key, defaultValue);
     
     if (defaultIni != NULL && hasValue(defaultIni, section, key))