diff --git a/cmd/config_printer/config_summary.go b/cmd/config_printer/config_summary.go
index 0a76a8939..26e16a433 100644
--- a/cmd/config_printer/config_summary.go
+++ b/cmd/config_printer/config_summary.go
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ package config_printer
 import (
 	"reflect"
 
-	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 	"github.com/spf13/viper"
 
@@ -32,9 +31,7 @@ func configSummary(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 	defaultConfig := viper.New()
 	config.SetBaseDefaultsInConfig(defaultConfig)
 
-	if err := config.InitConfigDir(defaultConfig); err != nil {
-		log.Errorf("Error initializing config directory: %v", err)
-	}
+	config.InitConfigDir(defaultConfig)
 
 	defaultConfigMap := initClientAndServerConfig(defaultConfig)
 	currentConfigMap := initClientAndServerConfig(viper.GetViper())
diff --git a/config/config.go b/config/config.go
index 353cdec28..8a2fb14c6 100644
--- a/config/config.go
+++ b/config/config.go
@@ -498,13 +498,14 @@ func CleanupTempResources() (err error) {
 	return
 }
 
-func getConfigBase() (string, error) {
+func getConfigBase() string {
 	home, err := os.UserHomeDir()
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Warningln("No home directory found for user -- will check for configuration yaml in /etc/pelican/")
+		return filepath.Join("/etc", "pelican")
 	}
 
-	return filepath.Join(home, ".config", "pelican"), nil
+	return filepath.Join(home, ".config", "pelican")
 }
 
 func setupTransport() {
@@ -789,23 +790,19 @@ func SetBaseDefaultsInConfig(v *viper.Viper) {
 }
 
 // For the given Viper instance, set the default config directory.
-func InitConfigDir(v *viper.Viper) error {
+func InitConfigDir(v *viper.Viper) {
 
 	configDir := v.GetString("ConfigDir")
 	if configDir == "" {
 		if IsRootExecution() {
 			configDir = "/etc/pelican"
 		} else {
-			configTmp, err := getConfigBase()
-			if err != nil {
-				return err
-			}
+			configTmp := getConfigBase()
 			configDir = configTmp
 		}
 		v.SetDefault("ConfigDir", configDir)
 	}
 	v.SetConfigName("pelican")
-	return nil
 }
 
 // InitConfig sets up the global Viper instance by loading defaults and
@@ -818,10 +815,7 @@ func InitConfig() {
 	// Set default values in the global Viper instance
 	SetBaseDefaultsInConfig(viper.GetViper())
 
-	if err := InitConfigDir(viper.GetViper()); err != nil {
-		log.Errorf("Failed to initialize the config directory, Error: %v", err)
-		os.Exit(1)
-	}
+	InitConfigDir(viper.GetViper())
 
 	if configFile := viper.GetString("config"); configFile != "" {
 		viper.SetConfigFile(configFile)
diff --git a/config/config_test.go b/config/config_test.go
index d270dfff4..a7422f230 100644
--- a/config/config_test.go
+++ b/config/config_test.go
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import (
 	"net/http/httptest"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"runtime"
 	"sort"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
@@ -180,6 +181,92 @@ func TestInitConfig(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, "", param.Federation_DiscoveryUrl.GetString())
 }
 
+// Helper function to set and reset the environment variable HOME/USERPROFILE
+func setHomeDirEnv(t *testing.T, mockHomeDir string) func() {
+	// Save the original environment variables for restoration
+	originalHome := os.Getenv("HOME")
+
+	// Set the appropriate environment variable based on the platform
+	if err := os.Setenv("HOME", mockHomeDir); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to set HOME: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// Return a function to restore the environment variables
+	return func() {
+		// Restore HOME
+		if originalHome != "" {
+			os.Setenv("HOME", originalHome)
+		} else {
+			os.Unsetenv("HOME")
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestHomeDir(t *testing.T) {
+	if runtime.GOOS != "windows" {
+		mockHomeDir := filepath.Join("test", "configDir")
+		ResetConfig()
+		t.Cleanup(func() {
+			ResetConfig()
+		})
+
+		// Save the original environment variables
+		oldConfigRoot := isRootExec
+		resetEnv := setHomeDirEnv(t, mockHomeDir)
+
+		defer func() {
+			resetEnv()
+			isRootExec = oldConfigRoot
+		}()
+
+		t.Run("RootUserNoConfigDir", func(t *testing.T) {
+			isRootExec = true
+
+			InitConfigDir(viper.GetViper())
+
+			cDir := viper.GetString("ConfigDir")
+			require.Equal(t, "/etc/pelican", cDir)
+		})
+
+		t.Run("WithConfigDir", func(t *testing.T) {
+			viper.Set("ConfigDir", "/test/configDir")
+
+			InitConfigDir(viper.GetViper())
+
+			cDir := viper.GetString("ConfigDir")
+			require.Equal(t, "/test/configDir", cDir)
+		})
+
+		t.Run("NonRootNoConfigDirWithHomeSet", func(t *testing.T) {
+			isRootExec = false
+			viper.Reset()
+
+			InitConfigDir(viper.GetViper())
+
+			cDir := viper.GetString("ConfigDir")
+			require.Equal(t, filepath.Join("test", "configDir", ".config", "pelican"), cDir)
+		})
+
+		t.Run("NonRootNoConfigDirWithNoHome", func(t *testing.T) {
+			isRootExec = false
+			viper.Reset()
+			os.Unsetenv("HOME")
+
+			InitConfigDir(viper.GetViper())
+
+			cDir := viper.GetString("ConfigDir")
+			require.Equal(t, filepath.Join("/etc", "pelican"), cDir)
+		})
+	}
+
+}
+
+// HOME directory test
+// Root and set
+// Root and unset
+// Non root and set
+// Non root and unset
+
 // Helper func for TestExtraCfg
 //
 // Sets up the root config file and adds the ConfigLocations key to point to a test's tempdir
@@ -603,9 +690,8 @@ func TestInitServerUrl(t *testing.T) {
 		ResetConfig()
 		viper.Set("Server.Hostname", mockHostname)
 		viper.Set("Server.WebPort", mockNon443Port)
-		err := InitConfigDir(viper.GetViper())
-		require.NoError(t, err)
-		err = InitServer(context.Background(), 0)
+		InitConfigDir(viper.GetViper())
+		err := InitServer(context.Background(), 0)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		assert.Equal(t, mockWebUrlWNon443Port, param.Server_ExternalWebUrl.GetString())
 	})
@@ -614,9 +700,8 @@ func TestInitServerUrl(t *testing.T) {
 		ResetConfig()
 		viper.Set("Server.Hostname", mockHostname)
 		viper.Set("Server.WebPort", mock443Port)
-		err := InitConfigDir(viper.GetViper())
-		require.NoError(t, err)
-		err = InitServer(context.Background(), 0)
+		InitConfigDir(viper.GetViper())
+		err := InitServer(context.Background(), 0)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		assert.Equal(t, mockWebUrlWoPort, param.Server_ExternalWebUrl.GetString())
 	})
@@ -625,9 +710,8 @@ func TestInitServerUrl(t *testing.T) {
 		// We respect the URL value set directly by others. Won't remove 443 port
 		ResetConfig()
 		viper.Set("Server.ExternalWebUrl", mockWebUrlW443Port)
-		err := InitConfigDir(viper.GetViper())
-		require.NoError(t, err)
-		err = InitServer(context.Background(), 0)
+		InitConfigDir(viper.GetViper())
+		err := InitServer(context.Background(), 0)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		assert.Equal(t, mockWebUrlWoPort, param.Server_ExternalWebUrl.GetString())
 	})
diff --git a/registry/client_commands_test.go b/registry/client_commands_test.go
index e9d96fa95..7adc1c900 100644
--- a/registry/client_commands_test.go
+++ b/registry/client_commands_test.go
@@ -47,10 +47,9 @@ func registryMockup(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, testName string) *httptes
 	viper.Set("IssuerKey", ikey)
 	viper.Set("Registry.DbLocation", filepath.Join(issuerTempDir, "test.sql"))
 	viper.Set("Server.WebPort", 8444)
-	err := config.InitConfigDir(viper.GetViper())
-	require.NoError(t, err)
+	config.InitConfigDir(viper.GetViper())
 
-	err = config.InitServer(ctx, server_structs.RegistryType)
+	err := config.InitServer(ctx, server_structs.RegistryType)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	setupMockRegistryDB(t)
diff --git a/xrootd/authorization_test.go b/xrootd/authorization_test.go
index d420eb924..940d4014a 100644
--- a/xrootd/authorization_test.go
+++ b/xrootd/authorization_test.go
@@ -502,8 +502,7 @@ func TestMergeConfig(t *testing.T) {
 			err := os.WriteFile(scitokensConfigFile, []byte(configInput), fs.FileMode(0600))
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 
-			err = config.InitConfigDir(viper.GetViper())
-			require.NoError(t, err)
+			config.InitConfigDir(viper.GetViper())
 			err = config.InitServer(ctx, server_structs.OriginType)
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 
@@ -540,8 +539,7 @@ func TestGenerateConfig(t *testing.T) {
 	viper.Set("Origin.Port", 8443)
 	viper.Set("Server.WebPort", 8443)
 	viper.Set(param.Origin_StorageType.GetName(), string(server_structs.OriginStoragePosix))
-	err = config.InitConfigDir(viper.GetViper())
-	require.NoError(t, err)
+	config.InitConfigDir(viper.GetViper())
 	err = config.InitServer(ctx, server_structs.OriginType)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	issuer, err = GenerateMonitoringIssuer()
@@ -558,8 +556,7 @@ func TestGenerateConfig(t *testing.T) {
 	viper.Set("Origin.ScitokensMapSubject", true)
 	viper.Set("Origin.Port", 8443)
 	viper.Set("Server.WebPort", 8443)
-	err = config.InitConfigDir(viper.GetViper())
-	require.NoError(t, err)
+	config.InitConfigDir(viper.GetViper())
 	err = config.InitServer(ctx, server_structs.OriginType)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	issuer, err = GenerateOriginIssuer([]string{"/foo/bar/baz", "/another/exported/path"})