diff --git a/shortcuts.c b/shortcuts.c
index c9bbf0a..ad0d79b 100644
--- a/shortcuts.c
+++ b/shortcuts.c
@@ -210,6 +210,7 @@ sc_rotate(girara_session_t* session, girara_argument_t* UNUSED(argument),
   zathura->document->rotate  = (zathura->document->rotate + 90) % 360;
 
   /* render all pages again */
+  /* XXX: we don't need to rerender, only to resize the widgets and redraw */
   render_all(zathura);
 
   return false;
diff --git a/zathura.c b/zathura.c
index 2199539..b52f45b 100644
--- a/zathura.c
+++ b/zathura.c
@@ -124,6 +124,9 @@ zathura_init(int argc, char* argv[])
   /* load plugins */
   zathura_document_plugins_load(zathura);
 
+  /* configuration */
+  config_load_default(zathura);
+
   /* load global configuration files */
   girara_list_t* config_dirs = girara_split_path_array(girara_get_xdg_path(XDG_CONFIG_DIRS));
   ssize_t size = girara_list_size(config_dirs) - 1;
@@ -137,10 +140,6 @@ zathura_init(int argc, char* argv[])
 
   config_load_file(zathura, GLOBAL_RC);
 
-  /* configuration */
-  config_load_default(zathura);
-
-
   /* load local configuration files */
   char* configuration_file = g_build_filename(zathura->config.config_dir, ZATHURA_RC, NULL);
   config_load_file(zathura, configuration_file);