diff --git a/qutebrowser/utils/standarddir.py b/qutebrowser/utils/standarddir.py
index b82845a96..0d64452d0 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/utils/standarddir.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/utils/standarddir.py
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ class _Location(enum.Enum):
 
 
 APPNAME = 'qutebrowser'
+CONFIG_LOCATIONS = [os.path.normpath(os.getenv('XDG_CONFIG_HOME', '~/.config')) + '/', '~/.']
 
 
 class EmptyValueError(Exception):
@@ -82,7 +83,7 @@ def _init_config(args: Optional[argparse.Namespace]) -> None:
     if utils.is_mac:
         path = _from_args(typ, args)
         if path is None:  # pragma: no branch
-            path = os.path.expanduser('~/.' + APPNAME)
+            path = _get_config_location()
             _create(path)
             _locations[_Location.config] = path
 
@@ -93,6 +94,18 @@ def _init_config(args: Optional[argparse.Namespace]) -> None:
     _locations[_Location.config_py] = config_py_file
 
 
+def _get_config_location() -> str:
+    """Get the optimal location for the config directory on disk.
+
+    Searches CONFIG_LOCATIONS in order for existing config folder, defaults to
+    CONFIG_LOCATIONS[0]
+    """
+    it = (p + APPNAME for p in CONFIG_LOCATIONS if
+        os.path.exists(os.path.expanduser(p + APPNAME)))
+    path = next(it, CONFIG_LOCATIONS[0] + APPNAME)
+    return os.path.expanduser(path)
+
+
 def config(auto: bool = False) -> str:
     """Get the location for the config directory.
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/utils/test_standarddir.py b/tests/unit/utils/test_standarddir.py
index 96bcbcf4c..d21ecc808 100644
--- a/tests/unit/utils/test_standarddir.py
+++ b/tests/unit/utils/test_standarddir.py
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ def test_unset_organization_no_qapp(monkeypatch):
 @pytest.mark.posix
 def test_fake_mac_config(tmp_path, fake_home_envvar):
     """Test standardir.config on a fake Mac."""
-    expected = str(tmp_path) + '/.qute_test'  # always with /
+    expected = str(tmp_path) + '/.config/qute_test'  # always with /
     standarddir._init_config(args=None)
     assert standarddir.config() == expected
 
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ class TestStandardDir:
         (standarddir.data, 2, ['Application Support', APPNAME]),
         (lambda: standarddir.config(auto=True), 1, [APPNAME]),
         (standarddir.config, 0,
-         os.path.expanduser('~').split(os.sep) + ['.qute_test']),
+         os.path.expanduser('~').split(os.sep) + ['.config'] + ['qute_test']),
         (standarddir.cache, 2, ['Caches', APPNAME]),
         (standarddir.download, 1, ['Downloads']),
     ])