diff --git a/kitty/child-monitor.c b/kitty/child-monitor.c
index 5cf946a89..37714592f 100644
--- a/kitty/child-monitor.c
+++ b/kitty/child-monitor.c
@@ -534,7 +534,7 @@ parse_input(ChildMonitor *self) {
         DECREF_CHILD(scratch[i]);
     }
     if (reload_config_called) {
-        call_boss(load_config_file, "");
+        call_boss(load_config_file, NULL);
     }
     return input_read;
 }