diff --git a/src/drivers/common/configSys.cpp b/src/drivers/common/configSys.cpp
index 1a1c6a3e..36abf7d1 100644
--- a/src/drivers/common/configSys.cpp
+++ b/src/drivers/common/configSys.cpp
@@ -578,13 +578,30 @@ char* Config::getConfigDirectory()
 
 int
 Config::_load()
+{
+	std::string configFile = _dir + "/" + cfgFile;
+	bool success = Config::_loadFile(configFile.c_str());
+
+	return success;
+}	
+
+int
+Config::_loadFile(const char* fname)
 {
     signed int pos, eqPos;
     std::fstream config;
     std::map<std::string, int>::iterator int_i;
     std::map<std::string, double>::iterator dbl_i;
     std::map<std::string, std::string>::iterator str_i;
-    std::string configFile = _dir + "/" + cfgFile;
+	std::string configFile;
+	// if no filename argument was passed, parse the default configuration file
+	if(fname == NULL)
+	{
+		configFile = _dir + "/" + cfgFile;
+	} else
+	{
+		configFile = fname;
+	}
     std::string line, name, value;
     char buf[1024];
 
diff --git a/src/drivers/common/configSys.h b/src/drivers/common/configSys.h
index dc275b1d..56b792bf 100644
--- a/src/drivers/common/configSys.h
+++ b/src/drivers/common/configSys.h
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ private:
     int _addOption(char, const std::string &, const std::string &, int);
     int _addOption(const std::string &, const std::string &, int);
     int _load(void);
+	int _loadFile(const char* fname);
     int _parseArgs(int, char **);
 
 public: