diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 3cf1b25d8..dbf95f21a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -252,6 +252,7 @@ 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 97f404bbb..038444a3f 100644
--- a/cobra/cmd/root.go
+++ b/cobra/cmd/root.go
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ 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 1db829c71..3e2ca72cd 100644
--- a/cobra/cmd/testdata/root.go.golden
+++ b/cobra/cmd/testdata/root.go.golden
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ 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 4348e5616..9e7851ae9 100644
--- a/cobra/tpl/main.go
+++ b/cobra/tpl/main.go
@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@ func initConfig() {
 
 		// Search config in home directory with name ".{{ .AppName }}" (without extension).
 		viper.AddConfigPath(home)
+		viper.SetConfigType("yaml")
 		viper.SetConfigName(".{{ .AppName }}")
 	}