diff --git a/pulsar/main.py b/pulsar/main.py
index becaf65e..ef4f4d14 100644
--- a/pulsar/main.py
+++ b/pulsar/main.py
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ def apply_env_overrides_and_defaults(conf):
 def load_app_configuration(ini_path=None, app_conf_path=None, app_name=None, local_conf=None, config_dir=PULSAR_CONFIG_DIR):
     """
     """
-    if ini_path and local_conf is None:
+    if os.path.exists(ini_path) and local_conf is None:
         from pulsar.util.pastescript.loadwsgi import ConfigLoader
         local_conf = ConfigLoader(ini_path).app_context(app_name).config()
     local_conf = local_conf or {}
diff --git a/scripts/pulsar b/scripts/pulsar
index f6908cdf..695c0ce9 100755
--- a/scripts/pulsar
+++ b/scripts/pulsar
@@ -116,8 +116,10 @@ then
         MODE="circusd"
     elif hash chaussette 2>/dev/null; then
         MODE="chaussette"
-    else
+    elif hash paster 2>/dev/null; then
         MODE="paster"
+    else
+        MODE="webless"
     fi
 fi
 
@@ -140,7 +142,6 @@ elif [ "$MODE" == "webless" ]; then
         pulsar-main
     else
         # Running locally.
-        PROJECT_DIRECTORY=$PULSAR_SCRIPTS_DIR/..
         cd $PROJECT_DIRECTORY
         export PYTHONPATH=.:$PYTHONPATH
         echo "Starting pulsar with command [python pulsar/main.py]"