diff --git a/beets/ui/commands.py b/beets/ui/commands.py
index 76473e678..bbdbbcf96 100644
--- a/beets/ui/commands.py
+++ b/beets/ui/commands.py
@@ -1482,11 +1482,13 @@ def config_func(lib, opts, args):
 
 def config_edit():
     """Open a program to edit the user configuration.
+    An empty config file is created if no existing config file exists.
     """
     path = config.user_config_path()
-
     editor = os.environ.get('EDITOR')
     try:
+        if not os.path.isfile(path):
+            open(path, 'w+').close()
         util.interactive_open(path, editor)
     except OSError as exc:
         message = "Could not edit configuration: {0}".format(exc)