diff --git a/top/top.1 b/top/top.1
index 23e3a8f6..a14347d8 100644
--- a/top/top.1
+++ b/top/top.1
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@
 .
 .\" Document /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 .\" ----------------------------------------------------------------------
-.TH TOP 1 "November 2016" "procps-ng" "User Commands"
+.TH TOP 1 "January 2017" "procps-ng" "User Commands"
 .\" ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 .\" ----------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -2195,7 +2195,14 @@ Here is an example of the contents of\fI /etc/toprc\fR:
 .\" ......................................................................
 .SS 6b. PERSONAL Configuration File
 .\" ----------------------------------------------------------------------
-This file is written as `$HOME/.your\-name\-4\-\*(We' + `rc'.
+The legacy version is written as `$HOME/.your\-name\-4\-\*(We' + `rc'
+with a leading period.
+
+A newly created \*(CF is written as procps/your\-name\-4\-\*(We' + `rc'
+without a leading period.
+The procps directory will be subordinate to either $XDG_CONFIG_HOME when
+set as an absolute path or the $HOME/.config directory.
+
 Use the `W' \*(CI to create it or update it.
 
 Here is the general layout:
@@ -2211,8 +2218,8 @@ Here is the general layout:
       "      # discussed below
 .fi
 
-If the $HOME variable is not present, \*(We will try to write the
-personal \*(CF to the current directory, subject to permissions.
+If the $HOME and $XDG_CONFIG_HOME variables are not present, \*(We will try
+to write the personal \*(CF in the current directory, subject to permissions.
 
 .\" ......................................................................
 .SS 6c. ADDING INSPECT Entries
diff --git a/top/top.c b/top/top.c
index 4427f89f..3de6510f 100644
--- a/top/top.c
+++ b/top/top.c
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@
 #include <sys/ioctl.h>
 #include <sys/resource.h>
 #include <sys/select.h>      // also available via <sys/types.h>
+#include <sys/stat.h>
 #include <sys/time.h>
 #include <sys/types.h>       // also available via <stdlib.h>
 
@@ -3458,13 +3459,10 @@ static int config_cvt (WIN_t *q) {
 static void configs_read (void) {
    float tmp_delay = DEF_DELAY;
    char fbuf[LRGBUFSIZ];
-   const char *p;
+   const char *p, *p_home;
    FILE *fp;
    int i;
 
-   p = getenv("HOME");
-   snprintf(Rc_name, sizeof(Rc_name), "%s/.%src", (p && *p) ? p : ".", Myname);
-
    fp = fopen(SYS_RCFILESPEC, "r");
    if (fp) {
       if (fgets(fbuf, sizeof(fbuf), fp)) {     // sys rc file, line 1
@@ -3475,6 +3473,25 @@ static void configs_read (void) {
       fclose(fp);
    }
 
+   // attempt to use the legacy file first, if we cannot access that file, use
+   // the new XDG basedir locations (XDG_CONFIG_HOME or HOME/.config) instead.
+   p_home = getenv("HOME");
+   if (!p_home || p_home[0] == '\0')
+      p_home = ".";
+   snprintf(Rc_name, sizeof(Rc_name), "%s/.%src", p_home, Myname);
+
+   if (access(Rc_name, F_OK)) {
+      p = getenv("XDG_CONFIG_HOME");
+      // ensure the path we get is absolute, fallback otherwise.
+      if (!p || p[0] != '/') {
+         p = fmtmk("%s/.config", p_home);
+         (void)mkdir(p, 0700);
+      }
+      snprintf(Rc_name, sizeof(Rc_name), "%s/procps", p);
+      (void)mkdir(Rc_name, 0700);
+      snprintf(Rc_name, sizeof(Rc_name), "%s/procps/%src", p, Myname);
+   }
+
    fp = fopen(Rc_name, "r");
    if (fp) {
       int tmp_whole, tmp_fract;