diff --git a/features/config-create.feature b/features/config-create.feature
index 85549eb5..b8152f9d 100644
--- a/features/config-create.feature
+++ b/features/config-create.feature
@@ -287,3 +287,14 @@ Feature: Create a wp-config file
       """
       define( 'DB_USER', 'wp_cli_test_ssl' )
       """
+
+  Scenario: Create config without WordPress bootstrap
+    Given an empty directory
+
+    When I run `wp config create --skip-check --dbname=testdb --dbuser=testuser --dbpass=testpass`
+    Then the return code should be 0
+    And STDOUT should contain:
+      """
+      Success: Generated 'wp-config.php' file.
+      """
+    And the wp-config.php file should exist
diff --git a/src/Config_Command.php b/src/Config_Command.php
index 969e1440..a6238512 100644
--- a/src/Config_Command.php
+++ b/src/Config_Command.php
@@ -189,6 +189,8 @@ private static function get_initial_locale() {
 	 *     # Using --prompt=dbpass will prompt for the 'dbpass' argument
 	 *     $ wp config create --dbname=testing --dbuser=wp --prompt=dbpass < password.txt
 	 *     Success: Generated 'wp-config.php' file.
+	 *
+	 * @when before_wp_load
 	 */
 	public function create( $_, $assoc_args ) {
 		if ( ! Utils\get_flag_value( $assoc_args, 'force' ) ) {