diff --git a/glymur/__init__.py b/glymur/__init__.py
index 29e8cc4..3525b6a 100644
--- a/glymur/__init__.py
+++ b/glymur/__init__.py
@@ -16,24 +16,15 @@ def _glymurrc_fname():
     if os.path.exists(fname):
         return fname
 
-    # environ var GLYMURCONFIGDIR
-    if 'GLYMURCONFIGDIR' in os.environ:
-        path = os.environ['GLYMURCONFIGDIR']
-        if os.path.exists(path):
-            fname = os.path.join(path, 'glymurrc')
-            if os.path.exists(fname):
-                return fname
-            else:
-                msg = "glymurrc file hinted at by GLYMURCONFIGDIR does not "
-                msg += "exist."
-                warnings.warn(msg, UserWarning)
-
-    # HOME/.glymur/glymurrc
+    # Either GLYMURCONFIGDIR/glymurrc or $HOME/.glymur/glymurrc
     confdir = _get_configdir()
     if confdir is not None:
-        fname = os.path.join(_get_configdir(), 'glymurrc')
+        fname = os.path.join(confdir, 'glymurrc')
         if os.path.exists(fname):
             return fname
+        else:
+            msg = "Configuration file '{0}' does not exist.".format(confdir)
+            warnings.warn(msg, UserWarning)
 
     # didn't find a configuration file.
     return None
diff --git a/glymur/test/test_jp2k.py b/glymur/test/test_jp2k.py
index 5234e0b..49abd9f 100644
--- a/glymur/test/test_jp2k.py
+++ b/glymur/test/test_jp2k.py
@@ -597,6 +597,17 @@ class TestJp2k(unittest.TestCase):
                 with self.assertWarns(UserWarning) as cw:
                     imp.reload(glymur)
 
+    @unittest.skipIf(sys.hexversion < 0x03020000,
+                     "Uses features introduced in 3.2.")
+    def test_home_dir_missing_config_dir(self):
+        # Verify no exception is raised if $HOME is missing .glymur directory.
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tdir:
+            with patch.dict('os.environ', {'HOME': tdir}):
+                # Misconfigured new configuration file should
+                # be rejected.
+                with self.assertWarns(UserWarning) as cw:
+                    imp.reload(glymur)
+
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main()