diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 22f373a2c6..1a3a16ed67 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -5,16 +5,14 @@ mod tests;
 
 use crate::install::populate_data_dir;
 use sessions::{assert_session, assert_session_ne, get_active_session, list_sessions};
-use std::convert::TryFrom;
 use std::process;
 use zellij_client::{os_input_output::get_client_os_input, start_client, ClientInfo};
 use zellij_server::{os_input_output::get_server_os_input, start_server};
 use zellij_utils::{
     cli::{CliArgs, Command, Sessions},
     consts::{ZELLIJ_TMP_DIR, ZELLIJ_TMP_LOG_DIR},
-    input::{config::Config, layout::Layout, options::Options},
     logging::*,
-    setup::{find_default_config_dir, get_default_data_dir, get_layout_dir, Setup},
+    setup::{get_default_data_dir, Setup},
     structopt::StructOpt,
 };
 
@@ -26,24 +24,13 @@ pub fn main() {
         list_sessions();
     }
 
-    let config = match Config::try_from(&opts) {
-        Ok(config) => config,
+    let (config, layout, config_options) = match Setup::from_options(&opts) {
+        Ok(results) => results,
         Err(e) => {
-            eprintln!("There was an error in the config file:\n{}", e);
+            eprintln!("{}", e);
             process::exit(1);
         }
     };
-    let config_options = Options::from_cli(&config.options, opts.command.clone());
-
-    if let Some(Command::Setup(ref setup)) = opts.command {
-        Setup::from_cli(setup, &opts, &config_options).map_or_else(
-            |e| {
-                eprintln!("{:?}", e);
-                process::exit(1);
-            },
-            |_| {},
-        );
-    };
 
     atomic_create_dir(&*ZELLIJ_TMP_DIR).unwrap();
     atomic_create_dir(&*ZELLIJ_TMP_LOG_DIR).unwrap();
@@ -94,15 +81,6 @@ pub fn main() {
             #[cfg(not(disable_automatic_asset_installation))]
             populate_data_dir(&data_dir);
 
-            let layout_dir = config_options.layout_dir.or_else(|| {
-                get_layout_dir(opts.config_dir.clone().or_else(find_default_config_dir))
-            });
-            let layout = Layout::from_path_or_default(
-                opts.layout.as_ref(),
-                opts.layout_path.as_ref(),
-                layout_dir,
-            );
-
             start_client(
                 Box::new(os_input),
                 opts,
diff --git a/zellij-utils/src/input/layout.rs b/zellij-utils/src/input/layout.rs
index a48c352194..090ccb13fc 100644
--- a/zellij-utils/src/input/layout.rs
+++ b/zellij-utils/src/input/layout.rs
@@ -80,8 +80,8 @@ impl Layout {
         layout: Option<&PathBuf>,
         layout_path: Option<&PathBuf>,
         layout_dir: Option<PathBuf>,
-    ) -> Option<Layout> {
-        let layout_result = layout
+    ) -> Option<Result<Layout, ConfigError>> {
+        layout
             .map(|p| Layout::from_dir(p, layout_dir.as_ref()))
             .or_else(|| layout_path.map(|p| Layout::new(p)))
             .or_else(|| {
@@ -89,16 +89,7 @@ impl Layout {
                     &std::path::PathBuf::from("default"),
                     layout_dir.as_ref(),
                 ))
-            });
-
-        match layout_result {
-            None => None,
-            Some(Ok(layout)) => Some(layout),
-            Some(Err(e)) => {
-                eprintln!("There was an error in the layout file:\n{}", e);
-                std::process::exit(1);
-            }
-        }
+            })
     }
 
     // Currently still needed but on nightly
diff --git a/zellij-utils/src/setup.rs b/zellij-utils/src/setup.rs
index aa0bb642b4..d498c6d77e 100644
--- a/zellij-utils/src/setup.rs
+++ b/zellij-utils/src/setup.rs
@@ -1,11 +1,17 @@
-use crate::cli::CliArgs;
 use crate::consts::{
     FEATURES, SYSTEM_DEFAULT_CONFIG_DIR, SYSTEM_DEFAULT_DATA_DIR_PREFIX, VERSION, ZELLIJ_PROJ_DIR,
 };
 use crate::input::options::Options;
+use crate::{
+    cli::{CliArgs, Command},
+    input::{
+        config::{Config, ConfigError},
+        layout::Layout,
+    },
+};
 use directories_next::BaseDirs;
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
-use std::{io::Write, path::Path, path::PathBuf};
+use std::{convert::TryFrom, io::Write, path::Path, path::PathBuf, process};
 use structopt::StructOpt;
 
 const CONFIG_LOCATION: &str = ".config/zellij";
@@ -139,6 +145,63 @@ pub struct Setup {
 
 impl Setup {
     /// Entrypoint from main
+    /// Merges options from the config file and the command line options
+    /// into `[Options]`, the command line options superceding the config
+    /// file options:
+    /// 1. command line options (`zellij options`)
+    /// 2. config options (`config.yaml`)
+    pub fn from_options(opts: &CliArgs) -> Result<(Config, Option<Layout>, Options), ConfigError> {
+        let clean = match &opts.command {
+            Some(Command::Setup(ref setup)) => setup.clean,
+            _ => false,
+        };
+
+        let config = if clean {
+            match Config::try_from(opts) {
+                Ok(config) => config,
+                Err(e) => {
+                    eprintln!("There was an error in the config file:");
+                    return Err(e);
+                }
+            }
+        } else {
+            Config::default()
+        };
+
+        let config_options = Options::from_cli(&config.options, opts.command.clone());
+
+        let layout_dir = config_options
+            .layout_dir
+            .clone()
+            .or_else(|| get_layout_dir(opts.config_dir.clone().or_else(find_default_config_dir)));
+        let layout_result = crate::input::layout::Layout::from_path_or_default(
+            opts.layout.as_ref(),
+            opts.layout_path.as_ref(),
+            layout_dir,
+        );
+        let layout = match layout_result {
+            None => None,
+            Some(Ok(layout)) => Some(layout),
+            Some(Err(e)) => {
+                eprintln!("There was an error in the layout file:");
+                return Err(e);
+            }
+        };
+
+        if let Some(Command::Setup(ref setup)) = &opts.command {
+            setup.from_cli(opts, &config_options).map_or_else(
+                |e| {
+                    eprintln!("{:?}", e);
+                    process::exit(1);
+                },
+                |_| {},
+            );
+        };
+
+        Ok((config, layout, config_options))
+    }
+
+    /// General setup helpers
     pub fn from_cli(&self, opts: &CliArgs, config_options: &Options) -> std::io::Result<()> {
         if self.clean {
             return Ok(());
@@ -201,7 +264,6 @@ impl Setup {
             }
         }
         if let Some(config_file) = config_file {
-            use crate::input::config::Config;
             message.push_str(&format!("[CONFIG FILE]: {:?}\n", config_file));
             match Config::new(&config_file) {
                 Ok(_) => message.push_str("[CONFIG FILE]: Well defined.\n"),