diff --git a/inventoryClient.lua b/inventoryClient.lua
index 5a42ad4..8b6074b 100644
--- a/inventoryClient.lua
+++ b/inventoryClient.lua
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 -- Orders and smelter controls are sent to the master.
 
 -------------------------------------------------
--- Configuration
+-- Default configuration (overridden by .client_config)
 -------------------------------------------------
 
 local BROADCAST_CHANNEL  = 4200   -- master sends state on this channel
@@ -20,6 +20,38 @@ local CLIENT_BARREL_NAME  = ""    -- e.g. "minecraft:barrel_3"
 
 local DROPPER_ANNOUNCE_INTERVAL = 30  -- seconds between dropper announcements
 
+-------------------------------------------------
+-- Load config from file if present
+-------------------------------------------------
+
+local CLIENT_CONFIG_FILE = ".client_config"
+
+local function loadConfig()
+    if not fs.exists(CLIENT_CONFIG_FILE) then return end
+    local f = fs.open(CLIENT_CONFIG_FILE, "r")
+    local data = f.readAll()
+    f.close()
+    local ok, cfg = pcall(textutils.unserialiseJSON, data)
+    if not ok or not cfg then
+        print("[WARN] Failed to parse " .. CLIENT_CONFIG_FILE)
+        return
+    end
+    -- Channels
+    if cfg.broadcastChannel then BROADCAST_CHANNEL = cfg.broadcastChannel end
+    if cfg.orderChannel     then ORDER_CHANNEL     = cfg.orderChannel     end
+    if cfg.clientChannel    then CLIENT_CHANNEL    = cfg.clientChannel    end
+    -- Peripherals
+    if cfg.monitorSide      then MONITOR_SIDE      = cfg.monitorSide      end
+    if cfg.smelterMonitorSide then SMELTER_MONITOR_SIDE = cfg.smelterMonitorSide end
+    if cfg.dropperName      then CLIENT_DROPPER_NAME = cfg.dropperName    end
+    if cfg.barrelName       then CLIENT_BARREL_NAME  = cfg.barrelName     end
+    -- Timing
+    if cfg.dropperAnnounceInterval then DROPPER_ANNOUNCE_INTERVAL = cfg.dropperAnnounceInterval end
+    print("[CONFIG] Loaded from " .. CLIENT_CONFIG_FILE)
+end
+
+loadConfig()
+
 -------------------------------------------------
 -- State (received from master)
 -------------------------------------------------