diff --git a/kubernetes/base/config/__init__.py b/kubernetes/base/config/__init__.py
index f41a4b39a..3f49ce0e9 100644
--- a/kubernetes/base/config/__init__.py
+++ b/kubernetes/base/config/__init__.py
@@ -33,7 +33,9 @@ def load_config(**kwargs):
     can be passed to either load_kube_config or
     load_incluster_config functions.
     """
-    if "kube_config_path" in kwargs.keys():
+    if "config_file" in kwargs.keys():
+        load_kube_config(**kwargs)
+    elif "kube_config_path" in kwargs.keys():
         kwargs["config_file"] = kwargs.pop("kube_config_path", None)
         load_kube_config(**kwargs)
     elif exists(expanduser(KUBE_CONFIG_DEFAULT_LOCATION)):