diff --git a/lib/reline.rb b/lib/reline.rb
index f0060f5c9c..ff96589ca6 100644
--- a/lib/reline.rb
+++ b/lib/reline.rb
@@ -335,7 +335,7 @@ def readline(prompt = '', add_hist = false)
         end
       end
 
-      unless config.test_mode
+      unless config.test_mode or config.loaded?
         config.read
         config.reset_default_key_bindings
         io_gate.set_default_key_bindings(config)
diff --git a/lib/reline/config.rb b/lib/reline/config.rb
index bec1ca178d..58bf09ac02 100644
--- a/lib/reline/config.rb
+++ b/lib/reline/config.rb
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ def initialize
     @test_mode = false
     @autocompletion = false
     @convert_meta = true if seven_bit_encoding?(Reline::IOGate.encoding)
+    @loaded = false
   end
 
   def reset
@@ -98,6 +99,10 @@ def keymap
     @key_actors[@keymap_label]
   end
 
+  def loaded?
+    @loaded
+  end
+
   def inputrc_path
     case ENV['INPUTRC']
     when nil, ''
@@ -141,6 +146,7 @@ def read(file = nil)
     end
 
     read_lines(lines, file)
+    @loaded = true
     self
   rescue InvalidInputrc => e
     warn e.message