diff --git a/scripts/feeds b/scripts/feeds
index 55a8dd94ea..045835c0cc 100755
--- a/scripts/feeds
+++ b/scripts/feeds
@@ -534,6 +534,11 @@ sub install_package {
 sub refresh_config {
 	my $default = shift;
 
+	# Don't create .config if it doesn't already exist so that making a
+	# config only occurs when the user intends it do (however we do
+	# want to refresh an existing config).
+	return if not (-e '.config');
+
 	# workaround for timestamp check
 	system("rm -f tmp/.packageinfo");