diff --git a/cmd/root.go b/cmd/root.go
index d371a98a..7b5b2144 100644
--- a/cmd/root.go
+++ b/cmd/root.go
@@ -42,6 +42,19 @@ var (
 		Use:     Name,
 		Version: Version,
 		Short:   "A simple common inventory system",
+		PreRunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+			if err := viper.ReadInConfig(); err != nil {
+				return err
+			} else {
+				msg := fmt.Sprintf("Using config file: %s", viper.ConfigFileUsed())
+				logger.Debug(msg)
+			}
+
+			// put the values into the options struct.
+			err := viper.Unmarshal(&options)
+
+			return err
+		},
 	}
 
 	options = struct {
@@ -122,17 +135,4 @@ func initConfig() {
 
 	viper.SetEnvPrefix(Name)
 	viper.AutomaticEnv()
-
-	if err := viper.ReadInConfig(); err != nil {
-		panic(err)
-	} else {
-		msg := fmt.Sprintf("Using config file: %s", viper.ConfigFileUsed())
-		logger.Debug(msg)
-	}
-
-	// put the values into the options struct.
-	err := viper.Unmarshal(&options)
-	if err != nil {
-		panic(err)
-	}
 }
diff --git a/cmd/root_test.go b/cmd/root_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..84497339
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/root_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+package cmd
+
+import (
+	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+	"github.com/spf13/viper"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/mock"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+type MockedCommandRun struct {
+	mock.Mock
+}
+
+func (m *MockedCommandRun) RunE(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+	margs := m.Called(cmd, args)
+	return margs.Error(0)
+}
+
+func setupMockRunE() map[string]*MockedCommandRun {
+	mocks := make(map[string]*MockedCommandRun)
+
+	for _, cmd := range rootCmd.Commands() {
+		mockedCommandRunE := new(MockedCommandRun)
+		mockedCommandRunE.On("RunE", mock.Anything, mock.Anything).Return(nil)
+		mocks[cmd.Name()] = mockedCommandRunE
+		cmd.RunE = mockedCommandRunE.RunE
+	}
+
+	return mocks
+}
+
+func assertCommandCalled(t *testing.T, command string, mocked map[string]*MockedCommandRun) {
+	targetRunE := "RunE"
+
+	for name, cmd := range mocked {
+		if name == command {
+			cmd.AssertCalled(t, targetRunE, mock.Anything, mock.Anything)
+		} else {
+			cmd.AssertNotCalled(t, targetRunE)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRootCommand(t *testing.T) {
+	commands := []string{"migrate", "serve"}
+	for _, command := range commands {
+		t.Run(command+" by setting storage.database to postgres", func(t *testing.T) {
+			rootCmd.SetArgs([]string{command, "--storage.database=postgres"})
+
+			mocked := setupMockRunE()
+			assert.Nil(t, rootCmd.Execute())
+
+			assertCommandCalled(t, command, mocked)
+			assert.Equal(t, "postgres", viper.GetString("storage.database"))
+		})
+	}
+}
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index bb35e7ec..bba517cc 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ require (
 	github.com/sourcegraph/conc v0.3.0 // indirect
 	github.com/spf13/afero v1.11.0 // indirect
 	github.com/spf13/cast v1.6.0 // indirect
+	github.com/stretchr/objx v0.5.2 // indirect
 	github.com/subosito/gotenv v1.6.0 // indirect
 	go.opentelemetry.io/otel v1.28.0 // indirect
 	go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric v1.28.0 // indirect
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index 84752ff0..db81ea16 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -351,6 +351,7 @@ github.com/spf13/viper v1.19.0/go.mod h1:GQUN9bilAbhU/jgc1bKs99f/suXKeUMct8Adx5+
 github.com/stretchr/objx v0.1.0/go.mod h1:HFkY916IF+rwdDfMAkV7OtwuqBVzrE8GR6GFx+wExME=
 github.com/stretchr/objx v0.4.0/go.mod h1:YvHI0jy2hoMjB+UWwv71VJQ9isScKT/TqJzVSSt89Yw=
 github.com/stretchr/objx v0.5.0/go.mod h1:Yh+to48EsGEfYuaHDzXPcE3xhTkx73EhmCGUpEOglKo=
+github.com/stretchr/objx v0.5.2 h1:xuMeJ0Sdp5ZMRXx/aWO6RZxdr3beISkG5/G/aIRr3pY=
 github.com/stretchr/objx v0.5.2/go.mod h1:FRsXN1f5AsAjCGJKqEizvkpNtU+EGNCLh3NxZ/8L+MA=
 github.com/stretchr/testify v1.3.0/go.mod h1:M5WIy9Dh21IEIfnGCwXGc5bZfKNJtfHm1UVUgZn+9EI=
 github.com/stretchr/testify v1.7.0/go.mod h1:6Fq8oRcR53rry900zMqJjRRixrwX3KX962/h/Wwjteg=