diff --git a/cmd/kportal/main.go b/cmd/kportal/main.go
index 24ff828..4bd223a 100644
--- a/cmd/kportal/main.go
+++ b/cmd/kportal/main.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package main
 
 import (
+	"bufio"
 	"context"
 	"flag"
 	"fmt"
@@ -49,6 +50,23 @@ var (
 	appVersion    = "0.1.0" // Set via ldflags during build
 )
 
+// promptCreateConfig asks the user if they want to create a new config file.
+// Returns true if the user answers yes, false otherwise.
+func promptCreateConfig(path string) bool {
+	fmt.Printf("Configuration file not found: %s\n", path)
+	fmt.Print("Would you like to create an empty configuration? [Y/n] ")
+
+	reader := bufio.NewReader(os.Stdin)
+	response, err := reader.ReadString('\n')
+	if err != nil {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	response = strings.TrimSpace(strings.ToLower(response))
+	// Empty response (just Enter) defaults to yes
+	return response == "" || response == "y" || response == "yes"
+}
+
 func main() {
 	flag.Parse()
 
@@ -173,14 +191,38 @@ func main() {
 
 	// Load configuration
 	cfg, err := config.LoadConfig(*configFile)
+	configIsNew := false
 	if err != nil {
-		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error loading config: %v\n", err)
-		os.Exit(1)
+		if err == config.ErrConfigNotFound {
+			// Config file doesn't exist - offer to create it
+			if !promptCreateConfig(*configFile) {
+				os.Exit(0)
+			}
+			// Create empty config file
+			if err := config.CreateEmptyConfigFile(*configFile); err != nil {
+				fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error creating config file: %v\n", err)
+				os.Exit(1)
+			}
+			fmt.Printf("Created %s\n", *configFile)
+			fmt.Println("Use 'n' in the UI to add port forwards, or edit the file manually.")
+			fmt.Println()
+
+			// Load the newly created config
+			cfg, err = config.LoadConfig(*configFile)
+			if err != nil {
+				fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error loading config: %v\n", err)
+				os.Exit(1)
+			}
+			configIsNew = true
+		} else {
+			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error loading config: %v\n", err)
+			os.Exit(1)
+		}
 	}
 
-	// Validate configuration
+	// Validate configuration (allow empty configs for newly created files)
 	validator := config.NewValidator()
-	if errs := validator.ValidateConfig(cfg); len(errs) > 0 {
+	if errs := validator.ValidateConfigWithOptions(cfg, configIsNew || cfg.IsEmpty()); len(errs) > 0 {
 		fmt.Fprint(os.Stderr, config.FormatValidationErrors(errs))
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
diff --git a/internal/config/config.go b/internal/config/config.go
index 42fdd18..75f5df1 100644
--- a/internal/config/config.go
+++ b/internal/config/config.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package config
 
 import (
 	"bytes"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"strings"
@@ -10,6 +11,9 @@ import (
 	"gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
+// ErrConfigNotFound is returned when the configuration file does not exist
+var ErrConfigNotFound = fmt.Errorf("config file not found")
+
 const (
 	// maxConfigSize is the maximum allowed configuration file size (10MB)
 	maxConfigSize = 10 * 1024 * 1024
@@ -282,6 +286,9 @@ func LoadConfig(path string) (*Config, error) {
 	// Validate file size before reading
 	fileInfo, err := os.Stat(path)
 	if err != nil {
+		if errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) {
+			return nil, ErrConfigNotFound
+		}
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to stat config file: %w", err)
 	}
 
@@ -337,3 +344,58 @@ func (c *Config) GetAllForwards() []Forward {
 
 	return forwards
 }
+
+// NewEmptyConfig returns a minimal empty configuration with no forwards.
+// This is used when creating a new config file for the first time.
+func NewEmptyConfig() *Config {
+	return &Config{
+		Contexts: []Context{},
+	}
+}
+
+// IsEmpty returns true if the configuration has no forwards defined.
+func (c *Config) IsEmpty() bool {
+	return len(c.Contexts) == 0 || len(c.GetAllForwards()) == 0
+}
+
+// CreateEmptyConfigFile creates a new empty configuration file at the given path.
+// Returns an error if the file already exists or cannot be created.
+func CreateEmptyConfigFile(path string) error {
+	// Check if file already exists
+	if _, err := os.Stat(path); err == nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("config file already exists: %s", path)
+	} else if !errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to check config file: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	cfg := NewEmptyConfig()
+	data, err := yaml.Marshal(cfg)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to marshal empty config: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	// Add a helpful comment header
+	header := `# kportal configuration file
+# Add port forwards using the 'n' key in the TUI, or manually add them below.
+#
+# Example forward:
+#   contexts:
+#     - name: my-cluster
+#       namespaces:
+#         - name: default
+#           forwards:
+#             - resource: service/my-service
+#               protocol: tcp
+#               port: 8080
+#               localPort: 8080
+#
+`
+	content := header + string(data)
+
+	// Write with restrictive permissions (0600)
+	if err := os.WriteFile(path, []byte(content), 0600); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to write config file: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/internal/config/config_test.go b/internal/config/config_test.go
index 9892c27..d4d0d36 100644
--- a/internal/config/config_test.go
+++ b/internal/config/config_test.go
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ func TestLoadConfig_FileNotFound(t *testing.T) {
 	cfg, err := LoadConfig("/non/existent/path/.kportal.yaml")
 	assert.Error(t, err, "LoadConfig should fail with non-existent file")
 	assert.Nil(t, cfg, "config should be nil on error")
-	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "failed to stat config file", "error should mention stat failure")
+	assert.Equal(t, ErrConfigNotFound, err, "should return ErrConfigNotFound")
 }
 
 func TestForward_ID(t *testing.T) {
@@ -397,3 +397,123 @@ func TestHTTPLogSpec_UnmarshalYAML(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+func TestNewEmptyConfig(t *testing.T) {
+	cfg := NewEmptyConfig()
+	assert.NotNil(t, cfg, "NewEmptyConfig should return non-nil config")
+	assert.Empty(t, cfg.Contexts, "NewEmptyConfig should have empty contexts")
+	assert.True(t, cfg.IsEmpty(), "NewEmptyConfig should be considered empty")
+}
+
+func TestConfig_IsEmpty(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name     string
+		config   *Config
+		expected bool
+	}{
+		{
+			name:     "nil contexts",
+			config:   &Config{},
+			expected: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "empty contexts slice",
+			config:   &Config{Contexts: []Context{}},
+			expected: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "context with empty namespaces",
+			config: &Config{
+				Contexts: []Context{
+					{Name: "test", Namespaces: []Namespace{}},
+				},
+			},
+			expected: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "context with namespace but no forwards",
+			config: &Config{
+				Contexts: []Context{
+					{
+						Name: "test",
+						Namespaces: []Namespace{
+							{Name: "default", Forwards: []Forward{}},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			expected: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "config with forward",
+			config: &Config{
+				Contexts: []Context{
+					{
+						Name: "test",
+						Namespaces: []Namespace{
+							{
+								Name: "default",
+								Forwards: []Forward{
+									{Resource: "pod/app", Port: 8080, LocalPort: 8080},
+								},
+							},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			expected: false,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.expected, tt.config.IsEmpty())
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestCreateEmptyConfigFile(t *testing.T) {
+	tmpDir := t.TempDir()
+	configPath := filepath.Join(tmpDir, ".kportal.yaml")
+
+	// Create empty config file
+	err := CreateEmptyConfigFile(configPath)
+	assert.NoError(t, err, "CreateEmptyConfigFile should succeed")
+
+	// Verify file exists
+	_, err = os.Stat(configPath)
+	assert.NoError(t, err, "config file should exist")
+
+	// Verify file is readable and parseable
+	cfg, err := LoadConfig(configPath)
+	assert.NoError(t, err, "should be able to load created config")
+	assert.NotNil(t, cfg, "config should not be nil")
+	assert.True(t, cfg.IsEmpty(), "created config should be empty")
+
+	// Verify file permissions (0600)
+	info, _ := os.Stat(configPath)
+	assert.Equal(t, os.FileMode(0600), info.Mode().Perm(), "file should have 0600 permissions")
+
+	// Verify file contains helpful header
+	content, _ := os.ReadFile(configPath)
+	assert.Contains(t, string(content), "# kportal configuration file", "should contain header comment")
+	assert.Contains(t, string(content), "Example forward", "should contain example")
+}
+
+func TestCreateEmptyConfigFile_AlreadyExists(t *testing.T) {
+	tmpDir := t.TempDir()
+	configPath := filepath.Join(tmpDir, ".kportal.yaml")
+
+	// Create existing file
+	err := os.WriteFile(configPath, []byte("existing content"), 0644)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+	// Try to create config file - should fail
+	err = CreateEmptyConfigFile(configPath)
+	assert.Error(t, err, "CreateEmptyConfigFile should fail when file exists")
+	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "already exists")
+
+	// Verify original content is preserved
+	content, _ := os.ReadFile(configPath)
+	assert.Equal(t, "existing content", string(content))
+}
diff --git a/internal/config/validator.go b/internal/config/validator.go
index 22ef252..e2f2708 100644
--- a/internal/config/validator.go
+++ b/internal/config/validator.go
@@ -37,6 +37,13 @@ func NewValidator() *Validator {
 
 // ValidateConfig validates the entire configuration and returns all errors found.
 func (v *Validator) ValidateConfig(cfg *Config) []ValidationError {
+	return v.ValidateConfigWithOptions(cfg, false)
+}
+
+// ValidateConfigWithOptions validates configuration with configurable strictness.
+// When allowEmpty is true, empty configurations (no contexts/forwards) are allowed.
+// This is useful for newly created config files where the user will add forwards via the TUI.
+func (v *Validator) ValidateConfigWithOptions(cfg *Config, allowEmpty bool) []ValidationError {
 	var errs []ValidationError
 
 	if cfg == nil {
@@ -46,6 +53,12 @@ func (v *Validator) ValidateConfig(cfg *Config) []ValidationError {
 		}}
 	}
 
+	// If empty configs are allowed and this config is empty, skip structure validation
+	if allowEmpty && cfg.IsEmpty() {
+		// Still validate health check and reliability if present (they don't require forwards)
+		return errs
+	}
+
 	// Validate structure
 	errs = append(errs, v.validateStructure(cfg)...)
 
diff --git a/internal/config/validator_test.go b/internal/config/validator_test.go
index 5baadef..822c941 100644
--- a/internal/config/validator_test.go
+++ b/internal/config/validator_test.go
@@ -972,3 +972,141 @@ func TestIsAlphanumeric(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+func TestValidator_ValidateConfigWithOptions(t *testing.T) {
+	validator := NewValidator()
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name         string
+		config       *Config
+		allowEmpty   bool
+		expectErrors bool
+	}{
+		{
+			name:         "empty config - strict mode",
+			config:       &Config{Contexts: []Context{}},
+			allowEmpty:   false,
+			expectErrors: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name:         "empty config - allow empty",
+			config:       &Config{Contexts: []Context{}},
+			allowEmpty:   true,
+			expectErrors: false,
+		},
+		{
+			name:         "nil contexts - allow empty",
+			config:       &Config{},
+			allowEmpty:   true,
+			expectErrors: false,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "context with no forwards - allow empty",
+			config: &Config{
+				Contexts: []Context{
+					{
+						Name: "dev",
+						Namespaces: []Namespace{
+							{Name: "default", Forwards: []Forward{}},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			allowEmpty:   true,
+			expectErrors: false,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "valid config - strict mode",
+			config: &Config{
+				Contexts: []Context{
+					{
+						Name: "dev-cluster",
+						Namespaces: []Namespace{
+							{
+								Name: "default",
+								Forwards: []Forward{
+									{
+										Resource:      "pod/my-app",
+										Protocol:      "tcp",
+										Port:          8080,
+										LocalPort:     8080,
+										contextName:   "dev-cluster",
+										namespaceName: "default",
+									},
+								},
+							},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			allowEmpty:   false,
+			expectErrors: false,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "valid config - allow empty (should still validate)",
+			config: &Config{
+				Contexts: []Context{
+					{
+						Name: "dev-cluster",
+						Namespaces: []Namespace{
+							{
+								Name: "default",
+								Forwards: []Forward{
+									{
+										Resource:      "pod/my-app",
+										Protocol:      "tcp",
+										Port:          8080,
+										LocalPort:     8080,
+										contextName:   "dev-cluster",
+										namespaceName: "default",
+									},
+								},
+							},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			allowEmpty:   true,
+			expectErrors: false,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "invalid forward in non-empty config - allow empty still validates",
+			config: &Config{
+				Contexts: []Context{
+					{
+						Name: "dev-cluster",
+						Namespaces: []Namespace{
+							{
+								Name: "default",
+								Forwards: []Forward{
+									{
+										Resource:      "pod/my-app",
+										Protocol:      "tcp",
+										Port:          0, // Invalid port
+										LocalPort:     8080,
+										contextName:   "dev-cluster",
+										namespaceName: "default",
+									},
+								},
+							},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			allowEmpty:   true,
+			expectErrors: true,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			errs := validator.ValidateConfigWithOptions(tt.config, tt.allowEmpty)
+
+			if tt.expectErrors {
+				assert.NotEmpty(t, errs, "expected validation errors")
+			} else {
+				assert.Empty(t, errs, "expected no validation errors, got: %v", errs)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/forward/manager.go b/internal/forward/manager.go
index 9bda964..9f168b5 100644
--- a/internal/forward/manager.go
+++ b/internal/forward/manager.go
@@ -169,8 +169,10 @@ func (m *Manager) Start(cfg *config.Config) error {
 	// Get all forwards from config
 	forwards := cfg.GetAllForwards()
 
+	// Empty config is valid - user can add forwards later via TUI
 	if len(forwards) == 0 {
-		return fmt.Errorf("no forwards configured")
+		log.Printf("No forwards configured - use 'n' to add forwards")
+		return nil
 	}
 
 	// Check port availability before starting
diff --git a/internal/forward/manager_test.go b/internal/forward/manager_test.go
index 66e5414..a3cb636 100644
--- a/internal/forward/manager_test.go
+++ b/internal/forward/manager_test.go
@@ -124,8 +124,8 @@ func TestManager_Start_EmptyForwards(t *testing.T) {
 
 	cfg := &config.Config{}
 	err = manager.Start(cfg)
-	assert.Error(t, err)
-	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "no forwards configured")
+	// Empty config is now valid - allows users to add forwards via TUI
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
 }
 
 // TestManager_Reload_NilConfig tests reloading with nil config