diff --git a/cmd/postgres_exporter/main.go b/cmd/postgres_exporter/main.go
index 07f0e542a..5f91323b1 100644
--- a/cmd/postgres_exporter/main.go
+++ b/cmd/postgres_exporter/main.go
@@ -41,7 +41,8 @@ var (
 		Config: &config.Config{},
 	}
 
-	configFile    = kingpin.Flag("config.file", "Postgres exporter configuration file.").Default("postgres_exporter.yml").String()
+	// Default is empty so you don't need a config file if using only DSN settings.
+	configFile    = kingpin.Flag("config.file", "Postgres exporter configuration file.").Default("").String()
 	webConfig     = kingpinflag.AddFlags(kingpin.CommandLine, ":9187")
 	webConfigFile = kingpin.Flag(
 		"web.config",
@@ -89,9 +90,13 @@ func main() {
 		return
 	}
 
-	if err := c.ReloadConfig(*configFile, logger); err != nil {
-		// This is not fatal, but it means that auth must be provided for every dsn.
-		level.Warn(logger).Log("msg", "Error loading config", "err", err)
+	// Load the config file if specified, otherwise use default/DSN settings
+	if *configFile != "" {
+		if err := c.ReloadConfig(*configFile, logger); err != nil {
+			level.Warn(logger).Log("msg", "Error loading config", "err", err)
+		}
+	} else {
+		level.Debug(logger).Log("msg", "No config file provided, using default/DSN settings")
 	}
 
 	dsns, err := getDataSources()
@@ -103,10 +108,6 @@ func main() {
 	excludedDatabases := strings.Split(*excludeDatabases, ",")
 	logger.Log("msg", "Excluded databases", "databases", fmt.Sprintf("%v", excludedDatabases))
 
-	// if *queriesPath != "" {
-	//	level.Warn(logger).Log("msg", "The extended queries.yaml config is DEPRECATED", "file", *queriesPath)
-	// }
-
 	if *autoDiscoverDatabases || *excludeDatabases != "" || *includeDatabases != "" {
 		level.Warn(logger).Log("msg", "Scraping additional databases via auto discovery is DEPRECATED")
 	}