diff --git a/src/helpers/config-file-loader.mts b/src/helpers/config-file-loader.mts
index d6c242d..b509c02 100644
--- a/src/helpers/config-file-loader.mts
+++ b/src/helpers/config-file-loader.mts
@@ -45,9 +45,10 @@ export function configFilePaths(name: string): string[] {
 export async function configLoaderFile<
   S extends ServiceMap = ServiceMap,
   C extends ModuleConfiguration = ModuleConfiguration,
->({ application, logger }: ConfigLoaderParams<S, C>): ConfigLoaderReturn {
+>({ application, logger, internal }: ConfigLoaderParams<S, C>): ConfigLoaderReturn {
   const CLI_SWITCHES = minimist(process.argv);
-  const configFile = CLI_SWITCHES.config;
+  const configFile =
+    CLI_SWITCHES.config ?? internal?.boot?.options?.configuration?.boilerplate?.CONFIG;
   let files: string[];
   if (is.boolean(configFile)) {
     logger.fatal({ argv: process.argv }, "system failed to parse argv");
diff --git a/src/services/wiring.service.mts b/src/services/wiring.service.mts
index 593d9b2..838976f 100644
--- a/src/services/wiring.service.mts
+++ b/src/services/wiring.service.mts
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ function createBoilerplate() {
   return CreateLibrary({
     configuration: {
       /**
-       * Only usable by **cli switch**.
+       * Only usable by **cli switch** / application bootstrap.
        * Pass path to a config file for loader
        *
        * ```bash
diff --git a/testing/configuration.spec.mts b/testing/configuration.spec.mts
index a1332a2..004547d 100644
--- a/testing/configuration.spec.mts
+++ b/testing/configuration.spec.mts
@@ -884,6 +884,87 @@ describe("Configuration", () => {
 
           expect(readSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith("./config_file", "utf8");
         });
+
+        it("uses bootstrap-provided CONFIG when no CLI switch", async () => {
+          vi.spyOn(fs, "existsSync").mockImplementation(() => true);
+
+          const readSpy = vi.spyOn(fs, "readFileSync").mockImplementation(() => ``);
+          const logger = createMockLogger();
+          process.argv = [""];
+          await configLoaderFile({
+            // @ts-expect-error not needed for test
+            application: {},
+            internal: {
+              boot: {
+                options: {
+                  configuration: {
+                    boilerplate: {
+                      CONFIG: "./bootstrap_config.yaml",
+                    },
+                  },
+                },
+              },
+            } as InternalDefinition,
+            logger,
+          });
+
+          expect(readSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith("./bootstrap_config.yaml", "utf8");
+        });
+
+        it("CLI switch takes precedence over bootstrap-provided CONFIG", async () => {
+          vi.spyOn(fs, "existsSync").mockImplementation(() => true);
+
+          const readSpy = vi.spyOn(fs, "readFileSync").mockImplementation(() => ``);
+          const logger = createMockLogger();
+          process.argv = ["", "--config=./cli_config.yaml"];
+          await configLoaderFile({
+            // @ts-expect-error not needed for test
+            application: {},
+            internal: {
+              boot: {
+                options: {
+                  configuration: {
+                    boilerplate: {
+                      CONFIG: "./bootstrap_config.yaml",
+                    },
+                  },
+                },
+              },
+            } as InternalDefinition,
+            logger,
+          });
+
+          expect(readSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith("./cli_config.yaml", "utf8");
+        });
+
+        it("bootstrap CONFIG overrides auto-discovery", async () => {
+          vi.spyOn(fs, "existsSync").mockImplementation(() => true);
+          // @ts-expect-error rest isn't needed
+          vi.spyOn(fs, "statSync").mockImplementation(() => ({ isFile: () => true }));
+
+          const readSpy = vi.spyOn(fs, "readFileSync").mockImplementation(() => ``);
+          const logger = createMockLogger();
+          process.argv = [""];
+          await configLoaderFile({
+            // @ts-expect-error not needed for test
+            application: { name: "test-app" },
+            internal: {
+              boot: {
+                options: {
+                  configuration: {
+                    boilerplate: {
+                      CONFIG: "./explicit_config.yaml",
+                    },
+                  },
+                },
+              },
+            } as InternalDefinition,
+            logger,
+          });
+
+          expect(readSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith("./explicit_config.yaml", "utf8");
+          expect(readSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.stringContaining(".test-app"), "utf8");
+        });
       });
 
       // #MARK: loadConfigFromFile