diff --git a/client/config/config.go b/client/config/config.go
index ec515ab98..34e75fe8c 100644
--- a/client/config/config.go
+++ b/client/config/config.go
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ func NewConfig() Config {
 	return config
 }
 
-// GetOpt returns the specified configuration value or "".
+// Read returns the specified configuration value or "".
 func (c *Config) Read(id string) string {
 	val, ok := c.Options[id]
 	if !ok {
@@ -64,3 +64,13 @@ func (c *Config) Read(id string) string {
 	}
 	return val
 }
+
+// ReadDefault returns the specified configuration value, or the specified
+// default value if none is set.
+func (c *Config) ReadDefault(id string, defaultValue string) string {
+	val := c.Read(id)
+	if val != "" {
+		return val
+	}
+	return defaultValue
+}