diff --git a/cmd/joj3/conf/conf.go b/cmd/joj3/conf/conf.go
index f8e6837..2f1c94e 100644
--- a/cmd/joj3/conf/conf.go
+++ b/cmd/joj3/conf/conf.go
@@ -228,10 +228,10 @@ func ParseMsg(confRoot, confName, msg, tag string) (confPath, group string, err
 	return
 }
 
-func ListValidScopes(confRoot, confName string) ([]string, error) {
+func HintValidScopes(confRoot, confName string) {
 	confRoot = filepath.Clean(confRoot)
 	validScopes := []string{}
-	err := filepath.Walk(confRoot, func(
+	_ = filepath.Walk(confRoot, func(
 		path string, info os.FileInfo, err error,
 	) error {
 		if err != nil {
@@ -254,7 +254,8 @@ func ListValidScopes(confRoot, confName string) ([]string, error) {
 		}
 		return nil
 	})
-	return validScopes, err
+	slog.Info("HINT: use valid scopes in commit message",
+		"valid scopes", validScopes)
 }
 
 func CheckExpire(conf *Conf) error {
diff --git a/cmd/joj3/main.go b/cmd/joj3/main.go
index 74fa4a7..4fe6b1e 100644
--- a/cmd/joj3/main.go
+++ b/cmd/joj3/main.go
@@ -48,20 +48,16 @@ func mainImpl() error {
 	confPath, group, err := conf.ParseMsg(confRoot, confName, msg, tag)
 	if err != nil {
 		slog.Error("parse msg", "error", err)
-		validScopes, scopeErr := conf.ListValidScopes(
-			confRoot, confName)
-		if scopeErr != nil {
-			slog.Error("list valid scopes", "error", scopeErr)
-			return err
-		}
-		slog.Info("HINT: use valid scopes in commit message",
-			"valid scopes", validScopes)
+		conf.HintValidScopes(confRoot, confName)
 		return err
 	}
 	slog.Info("try to load conf", "path", confPath)
 	confObj, err := conf.ParseConfFile(confPath)
 	if err != nil {
 		slog.Error("parse conf", "error", err)
+		if _, statErr := os.Stat(confPath); os.IsNotExist(statErr) {
+			conf.HintValidScopes(confRoot, confName)
+		}
 		return err
 	}
 	slog.Debug("conf loaded", "conf", confObj)