diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 11602cf..6b78f02 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ pages:
   before_script:
     - apt-get update && apt-get install -y hugo
   script:
-    - ./signaldctl doc
+    - SIGNALDCTL_PUBLIC_DOC_MODE=on ./signaldctl doc
     - cd docs
     - hugo
     - mv public ../
diff --git a/cmd/signaldctl/cmd/root.go b/cmd/signaldctl/cmd/root.go
index 54c916d..05b38dd 100644
--- a/cmd/signaldctl/cmd/root.go
+++ b/cmd/signaldctl/cmd/root.go
@@ -66,7 +66,11 @@ func Execute() {
 
 func init() {
 	cobra.OnInitialize(initConfig)
-	RootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVar(&config.Path, "config", fmt.Sprintf("%s/.config/signaldctl.yaml", os.Getenv("HOME")), "config file (default is ~/.config/signaldctl.yaml)")
+	defaultConfigPath := fmt.Sprintf("%s/.config/signaldctl.yaml", os.Getenv("HOME"))
+	if os.Getenv("SIGNALDCTL_PUBLIC_DOC_MODE") == "on" {
+		defaultConfigPath = "~/.config/signaldctl.yaml"
+	}
+	RootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVar(&config.Path, "config", defaultConfigPath, "config file")
 	RootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVar(&socketPath, "socket", "/var/run/signald/signald.sock", "the path to the signald socket file")
 	RootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVarP(&common.OutputFormat, "output-format", "o", "default", "the output format. options are usually table, yaml and json, default is usually table. Some commands have other options.")
 	RootCmd.AddCommand(account.AccountCmd)