diff --git a/src/config.c b/src/config.c
index d082249..e9c615e 100644
--- a/src/config.c
+++ b/src/config.c
@@ -232,6 +232,7 @@ int chroma_config_load_toml(chroma_config_t *config, const char *config_file) {
   toml_result_t result = toml_parse_file_ex(config_file);
   if (!result.ok) {
     chroma_log("DEBUG", "TOML parse failed: %s", result.errmsg);
+    toml_free(result);
     return CHROMA_ERROR_CONFIG;
   }
 
@@ -244,6 +245,12 @@ int chroma_config_load_toml(chroma_config_t *config, const char *config_file) {
     const char *path_to_use = expanded_path ? expanded_path : default_image.u.s;
     if (strlen(path_to_use) < sizeof(config->default_image)) {
       strcpy(config->default_image, path_to_use);
+    } else {
+      chroma_log("WARN",
+                 "default_image path too long (%zu >= %zu), truncating: %s",
+                 strlen(path_to_use), sizeof(config->default_image), path_to_use);
+      snprintf(config->default_image, sizeof(config->default_image), "%s",
+               path_to_use);
     }
     if (expanded_path) {
       free(expanded_path);
@@ -427,14 +434,9 @@ static void init_default_config(chroma_config_t *config) {
   config->max_output_height = 2160;   // 4K height
   config->min_scale_factor = 0.25f;   // don't scale below 25%
 
-  // Set default image path (can be overridden)
-  const char *home = getenv("HOME");
-  if (home) {
-    snprintf(config->default_image, sizeof(config->default_image),
-             "%s/.config/chroma/default.jpg", home);
-  } else {
-    strcpy(config->default_image, "/usr/share/pixmaps/chroma-default.jpg");
-  }
+  // Leave default_image empty - user must configure it explicitly
+  // This avoids errors when the hardcoded path doesn't exist
+  config->default_image[0] = '\0';
 }
 
 // Load configuration from file (TOML format only)