diff --git a/lib/read-config-file.js b/lib/read-config-file.js
index 45e4c0e..275a2c4 100755
--- a/lib/read-config-file.js
+++ b/lib/read-config-file.js
@@ -13,6 +13,12 @@ const readConfigFile = (CZ_CONFIG_NAME = '.cz-config.js') => {
     return czConfig;
   }
 
+  const czConfigJSON = findConfig.require(`${path.parse(CZ_CONFIG_NAME).name}.json`, { home: false })
+
+  if (czConfigJSON) {
+    return czConfigJSON
+  }
+
   // fallback to locating it using the config block in the nearest package.json
   let pkg = findConfig('package.json', { home: false });