diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a1b13ddda..3c290f4a4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -246,6 +246,7 @@ func initConfig() {
 
 		// Search config in home directory with name ".cobra" (without extension).
 		viper.AddConfigPath(home)
+		viper.SetConfigType("yaml")
 		viper.SetConfigName(".cobra")
 	}
 
diff --git a/cobra/cmd/root.go b/cobra/cmd/root.go
index f27ae7e6c..86254c64c 100644
--- a/cobra/cmd/root.go
+++ b/cobra/cmd/root.go
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ func initConfig() {
 
 		// Search config in home directory with name ".cobra" (without extension).
 		viper.AddConfigPath(home)
+		viper.SetConfigType("yaml")
 		viper.SetConfigName(".cobra")
 	}
 
diff --git a/cobra/cmd/testdata/root.go.golden b/cobra/cmd/testdata/root.go.golden
index be040365b..26dedff74 100644
--- a/cobra/cmd/testdata/root.go.golden
+++ b/cobra/cmd/testdata/root.go.golden
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ func initConfig() {
 
 		// Search config in home directory with name ".testproject" (without extension).
 		viper.AddConfigPath(home)
+		viper.SetConfigType("yaml")
 		viper.SetConfigName(".testproject")
 	}
 
diff --git a/cobra/tpl/main.go b/cobra/tpl/main.go
index 0b9c6610e..fbb3372b8 100644
--- a/cobra/tpl/main.go
+++ b/cobra/tpl/main.go
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ func initConfig() {
 
 		// Search config in home directory with name ".{{ .AppName }}" (without extension).
 		viper.AddConfigPath(home)
+		viper.SetConfigType("yaml")
 		viper.SetConfigName(".{{ .AppName }}")
 	}