diff --git a/configuration.c b/configuration.c
index ff68547420..f1a9b4e260 100644
--- a/configuration.c
+++ b/configuration.c
@@ -3445,7 +3445,7 @@ bool config_load_remap(void)
          path_size);
 
    /* Create a new config file from game_path */
-   new_conf = config_file_read(game_path);
+   new_conf = config_file_new(game_path);
 
    /* If a game remap file exists, load it. */
    if (new_conf)
@@ -3467,7 +3467,7 @@ bool config_load_remap(void)
    }
 
    /* Create a new config file from content_path */
-   new_conf = config_file_read(content_path);
+   new_conf = config_file_new(content_path);
 
    /* If a content-dir remap file exists, load it. */
    if (new_conf)
@@ -3489,7 +3489,7 @@ bool config_load_remap(void)
    }
 
    /* Create a new config file from core_path */
-   new_conf = config_file_read(core_path);
+   new_conf = config_file_new(core_path);
 
    /* If a core remap file exists, load it. */
    if (new_conf)
@@ -3746,7 +3746,7 @@ bool config_save_autoconf_profile(const char *path, unsigned user)
    free(buf);
    free(path_new);
 
-   conf = config_file_read(autoconf_file);
+   conf = config_file_new(autoconf_file);
 
    if (!conf)
    {
@@ -3810,7 +3810,7 @@ bool config_save_file(const char *path)
    struct config_float_setting     *float_settings   = NULL;
    struct config_array_setting     *array_settings   = NULL;
    struct config_path_setting     *path_settings     = NULL;
-   config_file_t                              *conf  = config_file_read(path);
+   config_file_t                              *conf  = config_file_new(path);
    settings_t                              *settings = config_get_ptr();
    int bool_settings_size                            = sizeof(settings->bools) / sizeof(settings->bools.placeholder);
    int float_settings_size                           = sizeof(settings->floats)/ sizeof(settings->floats.placeholder);
diff --git a/core_info.c b/core_info.c
index a2d974e1c7..37cc7d1827 100644
--- a/core_info.c
+++ b/core_info.c
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ static config_file_t *core_info_list_iterate(
    info_path_base = NULL;
 
    if (path_is_valid(info_path))
-      conf = config_file_read(info_path);
+      conf = config_file_new(info_path);
    free(info_path);
 
    return conf;
@@ -915,7 +915,7 @@ bool core_info_list_get_display_name(core_info_list_t *core_info_list,
 bool core_info_get_display_name(const char *path, char *s, size_t len)
 {
    char       *tmp          = NULL;
-   config_file_t *conf      = config_file_read(path);
+   config_file_t *conf      = config_file_new(path);
 
    if (!conf)
       return false;
diff --git a/frontend/frontend_salamander.c b/frontend/frontend_salamander.c
index 5602af170c..1c13fa4b67 100644
--- a/frontend/frontend_salamander.c
+++ b/frontend/frontend_salamander.c
@@ -123,8 +123,7 @@ static void salamander_init(char *s, size_t len)
    if (config_exists)
    {
       char tmp_str[PATH_MAX_LENGTH] = {0};
-      config_file_t * conf          = (config_file_t*)
-         config_file_read(g_defaults.path.config);
+      config_file_t * conf          = config_file_new(g_defaults.path.config);
 
       if (conf)
       {
diff --git a/gfx/common/metal_common.m b/gfx/common/metal_common.m
index f5b7e883bd..d91ca2488e 100644
--- a/gfx/common/metal_common.m
+++ b/gfx/common/metal_common.m
@@ -1133,7 +1133,7 @@ typedef struct MTLALIGN(16)
    [self _freeVideoShader:_shader];
    _shader = nil;
 
-   config_file_t         *conf = config_file_read(path.UTF8String);
+   config_file_t         *conf = config_file_new(path.UTF8String);
    struct video_shader *shader = (struct video_shader *)calloc(1, sizeof(*shader));
 
    @try
diff --git a/gfx/drivers/d3d10.c b/gfx/drivers/d3d10.c
index b0a3dbb9c5..ae6f721078 100644
--- a/gfx/drivers/d3d10.c
+++ b/gfx/drivers/d3d10.c
@@ -346,7 +346,7 @@ static bool d3d10_gfx_set_shader(void* data,
       return false;
    }
 
-   conf = config_file_read(path);
+   conf = config_file_new(path);
 
    if (!conf)
       return false;
diff --git a/gfx/drivers/d3d11.c b/gfx/drivers/d3d11.c
index f249b2ef7b..924e80b011 100644
--- a/gfx/drivers/d3d11.c
+++ b/gfx/drivers/d3d11.c
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@ static bool d3d11_gfx_set_shader(void* data, enum rarch_shader_type type, const
       return false;
    }
 
-   conf = config_file_read(path);
+   conf = config_file_new(path);
 
    if (!conf)
       return false;
diff --git a/gfx/drivers/d3d12.c b/gfx/drivers/d3d12.c
index c479177c43..fbc6af4ac2 100644
--- a/gfx/drivers/d3d12.c
+++ b/gfx/drivers/d3d12.c
@@ -334,8 +334,9 @@ static bool d3d12_gfx_set_shader(void* data, enum rarch_shader_type type, const
 {
 #if defined(HAVE_SLANG) && defined(HAVE_SPIRV_CROSS)
    unsigned         i;
-   d3d12_texture_t* source;
-   d3d12_video_t*   d3d12 = (d3d12_video_t*)data;
+   d3d12_texture_t* source = NULL;
+   config_file_t* conf     = NULL;
+   d3d12_video_t*   d3d12  = (d3d12_video_t*)data;
 
    if (!d3d12)
       return false;
@@ -353,7 +354,7 @@ static bool d3d12_gfx_set_shader(void* data, enum rarch_shader_type type, const
       return false;
    }
 
-   config_file_t* conf = config_file_read(path);
+   conf = config_file_new(path);
 
    if (!conf)
       return false;
diff --git a/gfx/drivers/d3d9.c b/gfx/drivers/d3d9.c
index a6b098fe89..e8797b092f 100644
--- a/gfx/drivers/d3d9.c
+++ b/gfx/drivers/d3d9.c
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@ static bool d3d9_init_multipass(d3d9_video_t *d3d, const char *shader_path)
    unsigned i;
    bool            use_extra_pass = false;
    struct video_shader_pass *pass = NULL;
-   config_file_t            *conf = config_file_read(shader_path);
+   config_file_t            *conf = config_file_new(shader_path);
 
    if (!conf)
    {
diff --git a/gfx/drivers/gx2_gfx.c b/gfx/drivers/gx2_gfx.c
index 5bda58f966..e3f0f63822 100644
--- a/gfx/drivers/gx2_gfx.c
+++ b/gfx/drivers/gx2_gfx.c
@@ -1409,9 +1409,10 @@ static bool wiiu_gfx_suppress_screensaver(void *data, bool enable)
 }
 
 static bool wiiu_gfx_set_shader(void *data,
-                                enum rarch_shader_type type, const char *path)
+      enum rarch_shader_type type, const char *path)
 {
-   wiiu_video_t *wiiu = (wiiu_video_t *)data;
+   config_file_t *conf = NULL;
+   wiiu_video_t *wiiu  = (wiiu_video_t *)data;
 
    if (!wiiu)
       return false;
@@ -1428,7 +1429,7 @@ static bool wiiu_gfx_set_shader(void *data,
    if (!path)
       return true;
 
-   config_file_t *conf = config_file_read(path);
+   config_file_t *conf = config_file_new(path);
 
    if (!conf)
       return false;
diff --git a/gfx/drivers_shader/shader_gl_cg.c b/gfx/drivers_shader/shader_gl_cg.c
index c9c2ad5a7c..71e805b76e 100644
--- a/gfx/drivers_shader/shader_gl_cg.c
+++ b/gfx/drivers_shader/shader_gl_cg.c
@@ -773,7 +773,7 @@ static bool gl_cg_load_preset(void *data, const char *path)
       return false;
 
    RARCH_LOG("[CG]: Loading Cg meta-shader: %s\n", path);
-   conf = config_file_read(path);
+   conf = config_file_new(path);
    if (!conf)
    {
       RARCH_ERR("Failed to load preset.\n");
diff --git a/gfx/drivers_shader/shader_gl_core.cpp b/gfx/drivers_shader/shader_gl_core.cpp
index d5d89e59d5..5311314900 100644
--- a/gfx/drivers_shader/shader_gl_core.cpp
+++ b/gfx/drivers_shader/shader_gl_core.cpp
@@ -2314,7 +2314,7 @@ gl_core_filter_chain_t *gl_core_filter_chain_create_from_preset(
    if (!shader)
       return nullptr;
 
-   unique_ptr<config_file_t, gl_core::ConfigDeleter> conf{ config_file_read(path) };
+   unique_ptr<config_file_t, gl_core::ConfigDeleter> conf{ config_file_new(path) };
    if (!conf)
       return nullptr;
 
diff --git a/gfx/drivers_shader/shader_glsl.c b/gfx/drivers_shader/shader_glsl.c
index b34277ff4f..3550074eae 100644
--- a/gfx/drivers_shader/shader_glsl.c
+++ b/gfx/drivers_shader/shader_glsl.c
@@ -896,7 +896,7 @@ static void *gl_glsl_init(void *data, const char *path)
 
       if (string_is_equal(path_ext, "glslp"))
       {
-         conf = config_file_read(path);
+         conf = config_file_new(path);
          if (conf)
          {
             ret = video_shader_read_conf_cgp(conf, glsl->shader);
diff --git a/gfx/drivers_shader/shader_vulkan.cpp b/gfx/drivers_shader/shader_vulkan.cpp
index 9064c19f58..81e2849ab1 100644
--- a/gfx/drivers_shader/shader_vulkan.cpp
+++ b/gfx/drivers_shader/shader_vulkan.cpp
@@ -2856,7 +2856,7 @@ vulkan_filter_chain_t *vulkan_filter_chain_create_from_preset(
    if (!shader)
       return nullptr;
 
-   unique_ptr<config_file_t, ConfigDeleter> conf{ config_file_read(path) };
+   unique_ptr<config_file_t, ConfigDeleter> conf{ config_file_new(path) };
    if (!conf)
       return nullptr;
 
diff --git a/gfx/video_filter.c b/gfx/video_filter.c
index 8f62ebf638..5e4fcb8dc4 100644
--- a/gfx/video_filter.c
+++ b/gfx/video_filter.c
@@ -404,7 +404,7 @@ rarch_softfilter_t *rarch_softfilter_new(const char *filter_config,
    if (!filt)
       return NULL;
 
-   filt->conf = config_file_read(filter_config);
+   filt->conf = config_file_new(filter_config);
    if (!filt->conf)
    {
       RARCH_ERR("[SoftFilter]: Did not find config: %s\n", filter_config);
diff --git a/input/input_remapping.c b/input/input_remapping.c
index f9db344592..ba231c2a11 100644
--- a/input/input_remapping.c
+++ b/input/input_remapping.c
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ bool input_remapping_save_file(const char *path)
 
    free(buf);
 
-   conf = config_file_read(remap_file);
+   conf = config_file_new(remap_file);
 
    if (!conf)
    {
diff --git a/libretro-common/file/config_file.c b/libretro-common/file/config_file.c
index ea79e35d45..f729b4051f 100644
--- a/libretro-common/file/config_file.c
+++ b/libretro-common/file/config_file.c
@@ -612,11 +612,6 @@ config_file_t *config_file_new(const char *path)
    return config_file_new_internal(path, 0, NULL);
 }
 
-config_file_t *config_file_read(const char *path)
-{
-   return config_file_new_internal(path, 0, NULL);
-}
-
 static struct config_entry_list *config_get_entry(
       const config_file_t *conf,
       const char *key, struct config_entry_list **prev)
@@ -1106,7 +1101,7 @@ bool config_get_entry_list_next(struct config_file_entry *entry)
 
 bool config_file_exists(const char *path)
 {
-   config_file_t *config = config_file_read(path);
+   config_file_t *config = config_file_new(path);
    if (!config)
       return false;
 
diff --git a/libretro-common/include/file/config_file.h b/libretro-common/include/file/config_file.h
index 6174907c37..e4e7eb585d 100644
--- a/libretro-common/include/file/config_file.h
+++ b/libretro-common/include/file/config_file.h
@@ -86,11 +86,6 @@ typedef struct config_file_cb config_file_cb_t ;
  * NULL path will create an empty config file. */
 config_file_t *config_file_new(const char *path);
 
-/* Is the same as config_file_new, with the only difference that
- * it doesn't check if the path provided is a directory. This can
- * be significantly faster on platforms where file I/O is slow */
-config_file_t *config_file_read(const char *path);
-
 /* Loads a config file. Returns NULL if file doesn't exist.
  * NULL path will create an empty config file.
  * Includes cb callbacks to run custom code during config file processing.*/
diff --git a/managers/cheat_manager.c b/managers/cheat_manager.c
index 1da65c2e29..f08abbf52f 100644
--- a/managers/cheat_manager.c
+++ b/managers/cheat_manager.c
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ bool cheat_manager_save(const char *path, const char *cheat_database, bool overw
    }
 
    if (!overwrite)
-      conf = config_file_read(cheats_file);
+      conf = config_file_new(cheats_file);
 
    if (!conf)
       conf = config_file_new(NULL);
diff --git a/managers/core_option_manager.c b/managers/core_option_manager.c
index 2d4be0d4e6..87ea3e23ca 100644
--- a/managers/core_option_manager.c
+++ b/managers/core_option_manager.c
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ core_option_manager_t *core_option_manager_new(const char *conf_path,
       return NULL;
 
    if (!string_is_empty(conf_path))
-      opt->conf = config_file_read(conf_path);
+      opt->conf = config_file_new(conf_path);
    if (!opt->conf)
       opt->conf = config_file_new(NULL);
 
diff --git a/menu/cbs/menu_cbs_deferred_push.c b/menu/cbs/menu_cbs_deferred_push.c
index ad82b5eff1..76434fcce2 100644
--- a/menu/cbs/menu_cbs_deferred_push.c
+++ b/menu/cbs/menu_cbs_deferred_push.c
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ static int deferred_push_cursor_manager_list_deferred(
    char *rdb                      = NULL;
    settings_t *settings           = config_get_ptr();
    const char *path               = info->path;
-   config_file_t *conf            = path ? config_file_read(path) : NULL;
+   config_file_t *conf            = path ? config_file_new(path) : NULL;
 
    if (!conf || !settings)
       goto end;
diff --git a/menu/cbs/menu_cbs_ok.c b/menu/cbs/menu_cbs_ok.c
index a38b762a80..02c5e41405 100644
--- a/menu/cbs/menu_cbs_ok.c
+++ b/menu/cbs/menu_cbs_ok.c
@@ -1486,7 +1486,7 @@ static int generic_action_ok(const char *path,
          break;
       case ACTION_OK_LOAD_REMAPPING_FILE:
          {
-            config_file_t *conf = config_file_read(action_path);
+            config_file_t *conf = config_file_new(action_path);
             flush_char          = msg_hash_to_str(flush_id);
 
             if (conf)
@@ -3777,7 +3777,7 @@ static int action_ok_option_create(const char *path,
       return 0;
    }
 
-   conf = config_file_read(game_path);
+   conf = config_file_new(game_path);
 
    if (!conf)
    {
diff --git a/menu/drivers/rgui.c b/menu/drivers/rgui.c
index aaf78840bc..389f521ea4 100644
--- a/menu/drivers/rgui.c
+++ b/menu/drivers/rgui.c
@@ -1889,7 +1889,7 @@ static void load_custom_theme(rgui_t *rgui, rgui_theme_t *theme_colors, const ch
       goto end;
 
    /* Open config file */
-   conf = config_file_read(theme_path);
+   conf = config_file_new(theme_path);
    if (!conf)
       goto end;
 
diff --git a/menu/menu_shader.c b/menu/menu_shader.c
index 6729b0707a..ca50747e22 100644
--- a/menu/menu_shader.c
+++ b/menu/menu_shader.c
@@ -109,14 +109,14 @@ bool menu_shader_manager_init(void)
          {
             fill_pathname_join(preset_path, shader_dir,
                   "menu.cgp", sizeof(preset_path));
-            found = config_file_read(preset_path);
+            found = config_file_new(preset_path);
          }
 
          if (!found)
          {
             fill_pathname_join(preset_path, shader_dir,
                   "menu.slangp", sizeof(preset_path));
-            found = config_file_read(preset_path);
+            found = config_file_new(preset_path);
          }
 
          new_path = strdup(preset_path);
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ bool menu_shader_manager_init(void)
 
    if (!string_is_empty(new_path) && found)
    {
-      config_file_t *conf = config_file_read(new_path);
+      config_file_t *conf = config_file_new(new_path);
       video_shader_read_conf_cgp(conf, menu_driver_shader);
       video_shader_resolve_relative(menu_driver_shader, new_path);
       video_shader_resolve_parameters(conf, menu_driver_shader);
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ bool menu_shader_manager_set_preset(void *data,
     * Used when a preset is directly loaded.
     * No point in updating when the Preset was
     * created from the menu itself. */
-   conf = config_file_read(preset_path);
+   conf = config_file_new(preset_path);
 
    if (!conf)
       return false;
diff --git a/record/drivers/record_ffmpeg.c b/record/drivers/record_ffmpeg.c
index b9ac661691..eb6a18b3d4 100644
--- a/record/drivers/record_ffmpeg.c
+++ b/record/drivers/record_ffmpeg.c
@@ -764,7 +764,7 @@ static bool ffmpeg_init_config(struct ff_config_param *params,
    if (!config)
       return true;
 
-   params->conf             = config_file_read(config);
+   params->conf             = config_file_new(config);
    RARCH_LOG("[FFmpeg] Loading FFmpeg config \"%s\".\n", config);
    if (!params->conf)
    {
diff --git a/tasks/task_autodetect.c b/tasks/task_autodetect.c
index 80c9df3fc7..cfc3135b7e 100644
--- a/tasks/task_autodetect.c
+++ b/tasks/task_autodetect.c
@@ -352,14 +352,11 @@ static bool input_autoconfigure_joypad_from_conf_dir(
       return false;
    }
 
-   if (list)
-   {
-      RARCH_LOG("[Autoconf]: %d profiles found.\n", (int)list->size);
-   }
+   RARCH_LOG("[Autoconf]: %d profiles found.\n", (int)list->size);
 
    for (i = 0; i < list->size; i++)
    {
-      conf = config_file_read(list->elems[i].data);
+      conf = config_file_new(list->elems[i].data);
 
       if (conf)
          ret  = input_autoconfigure_joypad_try_from_conf(conf, params);
@@ -374,7 +371,7 @@ static bool input_autoconfigure_joypad_from_conf_dir(
 
    if (index >= 0 && current_best > 0)
    {
-      conf = config_file_read(list->elems[index].data);
+      conf = config_file_new(list->elems[index].data);
 
       if (conf)
       {
diff --git a/tasks/task_overlay.c b/tasks/task_overlay.c
index 6a6a2ac61a..da6dfd49b0 100644
--- a/tasks/task_overlay.c
+++ b/tasks/task_overlay.c
@@ -749,7 +749,7 @@ bool task_push_overlay_load_default(
    if (task_queue_find(&find_data))
       goto error;
 
-   conf = config_file_read(overlay_path);
+   conf = config_file_new(overlay_path);
 
    if (!conf)
       goto error;
diff --git a/ui/drivers/qt/coreoptionsdialog.cpp b/ui/drivers/qt/coreoptionsdialog.cpp
index a9e414a89f..82c9cebf15 100644
--- a/ui/drivers/qt/coreoptionsdialog.cpp
+++ b/ui/drivers/qt/coreoptionsdialog.cpp
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ void CoreOptionsDialog::onSaveGameSpecificOptions()
       return;
    }
 
-   conf = config_file_read(game_path);
+   conf = config_file_new(game_path);
 
    if (!conf)
    {