diff --git a/nim.cfg b/nim.cfg
index 7d1a587..caf2dec 100644
--- a/nim.cfg
+++ b/nim.cfg
@@ -1,33 +1,10 @@
-#--define:debugPath
-#hint[Conf]=off
-hint[Processing]=off
-
-# toggle these if you like
-#--define:cutelogEmojis
-#--define:cutelogMonochrome
-#--define:cutelogBland
-
-# try it out; it's horrible
-#--define:writeNimbleDirPaths=true
-
-# github won't work without ssl enabled
---define:ssl
-
-#--define:npegTrace
-
-# specify our preferred version of libgit2
---define:git2SetVer:"0.28.3"
-
-# and our preferred method of retrieval
---define:git2DL
+# this configuration file will just hold path settings in it;
+# see the src/nimph.nim.cfg for compilation settings and constant
+# overrides
 
 # we're going to specify new dependency directories...
 --clearNimblePath
 
-# output the nimph binary in the project directory instead of
-# causing a filename clash and naming it src/nimph.out (duh)
---outdir="."
-
 # allow the source files to import themselves as they might
 # outside the library, a la 'import nimph/spec'
 --path="$config/src"
diff --git a/src/nimph.nim.cfg b/src/nimph.nim.cfg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8f4dc25
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/nimph.nim.cfg
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+# toggle these if you like
+#--define:cutelogEmojis
+#--define:cutelogMonochrome
+#--define:cutelogBland
+
+# try it out; it's horrible
+#--define:writeNimbleDirPaths=true
+
+# github won't work without ssl enabled
+--define:ssl
+
+# specify our preferred version of libgit2
+--define:git2SetVer:"0.28.3"
+
+# and our preferred method of retrieval
+--define:git2DL
+
+# output the nimph binary in the project directory instead of
+# causing a filename clash and naming it src/nimph.out (duh)
+--outdir="."
+
+hint[Processing]=off
+#--define:npegTrace
+
+# for gratuitous search path debugging
+#--define:debugPath