diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index bd13aaa..3038446 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -4,3 +4,4 @@
 coverage.xml
 htmlcov
 **__pycache__
+config.yaml
diff --git a/config-dist.yaml b/config-dist.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..71de9c9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config-dist.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+hostname: localhost
+port: 4785
+# matrix-specific settings
+matrix:
+  # URL of homeserver to connect
+  url: https://matrix.org
+  # user to connect to homserver as
+  id: username
+  # password for the user
+  pw: password
+# keys to allow  These should be random strings
+# these could be generated with something like `openssl rand -hex 24`
+# change these, you only need
+api:
+  keys:
+    # change these keys.  
+    - d6a26923e41492d89cffd9e5b6d9838a89e71ffa061edb5d # Can add a comment for what the key is used
+    - 149d866b2591ceee2b254ca8b16c08fd27a7e2eed7ff01e0
+# location of logfile
+log:
+  level: debug
diff --git a/matrix_webhook/conf.py b/matrix_webhook/conf.py
index af7270d..c8ffe0e 100644
--- a/matrix_webhook/conf.py
+++ b/matrix_webhook/conf.py
@@ -1,6 +1,25 @@
 """Configuration for Matrix Webhook."""
 import argparse
 import os
+import sys
+import yaml
+
+
+def get_numeric_log_level(log_level):
+    """Return a number that will calculate to the verbosity level"""
+    if log_level.lower() == "debug":
+        return 4
+    elif log_level.lower() == "info":
+        return 3
+    elif log_level.lower() == "warning":
+        return 2
+    elif log_level.lower() == "error":
+        return 1
+    elif log_level.lower() == "critical":
+        return 0
+    else:
+        return 2
+
 
 parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description=__doc__, prog="python -m matrix_webhook")
 parser.add_argument(
@@ -27,41 +46,60 @@ parser.add_argument(
     "-i",
     "--matrix-id",
     help="matrix user-id. Required. Environment variable: `MATRIX_ID`",
-    **(
-        {"default": os.environ["MATRIX_ID"]}
-        if "MATRIX_ID" in os.environ
-        else {"required": True}
-    ),
 )
 parser.add_argument(
     "-p",
     "--matrix-pw",
     help="matrix password. Required. Environment variable: `MATRIX_PW`",
-    **(
-        {"default": os.environ["MATRIX_PW"]}
-        if "MATRIX_PW" in os.environ
-        else {"required": True}
-    ),
 )
 parser.add_argument(
     "-k",
     "--api-keys",
     help="comma separated list of shared secrets to use this service. Required. Environment variable: `API_KEYS`",
-    **(
-        {"default": os.environ["API_KEYS"]}
-        if "API_KEYS" in os.environ
-        else {"required": True}
-    ),
 )
+parser.add_argument(
+    "-c",
+    "--config",
+    help="configuration file. Default: `config.yaml`",
+)
+
 parser.add_argument(
     "-v", "--verbose", action="count", default=0, help="increment verbosity level"
 )
 
 args = parser.parse_args()
 
-SERVER_ADDRESS = (args.host, args.port)
-MATRIX_URL = args.matrix_url
-MATRIX_ID = args.matrix_id
-MATRIX_PW = args.matrix_pw
-API_KEYS = args.api_keys.split(",")
-VERBOSE = args.verbose
+if args.config:
+    with open(args.config) as f:
+        config = yaml.safe_load(f)
+    SERVER_ADDRESS = (config["hostname"], config["port"])
+    MATRIX_URL = config["matrix"]["url"]
+    MATRIX_ID = config["matrix"]["id"]
+    MATRIX_PW = config["matrix"]["pw"]
+    API_KEYS = config["api_keys"]
+    LOG_FILE = config["log"]
+    VERBOSE = get_numeric_log_level(config["log"]["level"])
+else:
+    SERVER_ADDRESS = (args.host, args.port)
+    MATRIX_URL = args.matrix_url
+    LOG_FILE = args.log
+    if not args.matrix_id:
+        print("Missing matrix user-id. Use -i or --matrix-id or specify in config.yaml")
+        sys.exit(1)
+    else:
+        MATRIX_ID = args.matrix_id
+
+    if not args.matrix_pw:
+        print(
+            "Missing matrix password. Use -p or --matrix-pw or specify in config.yaml"
+        )
+        sys.exit(1)
+    else:
+        MATRIX_PW = args.matrix_pw
+
+    if not args.api_keys:
+        print("Missing api keys. Use -k or --api-keys or specify in config.yaml")
+        sys.exit(1)
+    else:
+        API_KEYS = args.api_keys.split(",")
+    VERBOSE = args.verbose