diff --git a/cmd/influxd/config.go b/cmd/influxd/config.go
index 2ff6b68c23..cbb83b6a2d 100644
--- a/cmd/influxd/config.go
+++ b/cmd/influxd/config.go
@@ -36,6 +36,9 @@ const (
 
 	// DefaultDataPort represents the default port the data server runs on.
 	DefaultDataPort = 8086
+
+	// DefaultJoinURLs represents the default URLs for joining a cluster.
+	DefaultJoinURLs = ""
 )
 
 // Config represents the configuration format for the influxd binary.
@@ -46,6 +49,10 @@ type Config struct {
 	Version           string `toml:"-"`
 	InfluxDBVersion   string `toml:"-"`
 
+	Initialization struct {
+		JoinURLs string `toml:"join-urls"`
+	}
+
 	Authentication struct {
 		Enabled bool `toml:"enabled"`
 	} `toml:"authentication"`
@@ -216,6 +223,14 @@ func (c *Config) DataDir() string {
 	return p
 }
 
+func (c *Config) JoinURLs() string {
+	if c.Initialization.JoinURLs == "" {
+		return DefaultJoinURLs
+	} else {
+		return c.Initialization.JoinURLs
+	}
+}
+
 // Size represents a TOML parseable file size.
 // Users can specify size using "m" for megabytes and "g" for gigabytes.
 type Size int
diff --git a/cmd/influxd/config_test.go b/cmd/influxd/config_test.go
index 06fda9e005..acfd6d2630 100644
--- a/cmd/influxd/config_test.go
+++ b/cmd/influxd/config_test.go
@@ -42,6 +42,10 @@ func TestParseConfig(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("hostname mismatch: %v", c.Hostname)
 	}
 
+	if c.JoinURLs() != "http://127.0.0.1:8086" {
+		t.Fatalf("JoinURLs mistmatch: %v", c.JoinURLs())
+	}
+
 	if c.Logging.File != "influxdb.log" {
 		t.Fatalf("logging file mismatch: %v", c.Logging.File)
 	} else if c.Logging.Level != "info" {
@@ -155,6 +159,11 @@ const testFile = `
 # that can be resolved here.
 hostname = "myserver.com"
 
+# Controls certain parameters that only take effect until an initial successful
+# start-up has occurred.
+[initialization]
+join-urls = "http://127.0.0.1:8086"
+
 # Control authentication
 [authentication]
 enabled = true
diff --git a/cmd/influxd/run.go b/cmd/influxd/run.go
index c26a5aab12..5b5533319e 100644
--- a/cmd/influxd/run.go
+++ b/cmd/influxd/run.go
@@ -31,9 +31,6 @@ func execRun(args []string) {
 	fs.Usage = printRunUsage
 	fs.Parse(args)
 
-	// Parse join urls from the --join flag.
-	joinURLs := parseURLs(*join)
-
 	// Print sweet InfluxDB logo and write the process id to file.
 	log.Print(logo)
 	log.SetPrefix(`[srvr] `)
@@ -45,6 +42,14 @@ func execRun(args []string) {
 	configExists := *configPath != ""
 	initializing := !fileExists(config.BrokerDir()) && !fileExists(config.DataDir())
 
+	// Parse join urls from the --join flag.
+	var joinURLs []*url.URL
+	if *join == "" {
+		joinURLs = parseURLs(config.JoinURLs())
+	} else {
+		joinURLs = parseURLs(*join)
+	}
+
 	// Open broker, initialize or join as necessary.
 	b := openBroker(config.BrokerDir(), config.BrokerURL(), initializing, joinURLs)
 
diff --git a/etc/config.sample.toml b/etc/config.sample.toml
index 8582bb67b6..df8e6b0451 100644
--- a/etc/config.sample.toml
+++ b/etc/config.sample.toml
@@ -15,6 +15,11 @@ bind-address = "0.0.0.0"
 # Change this option to true to disable reporting.
 reporting-disabled = false
 
+# Controls settings for initial start-up. Once a node a successfully started,
+# these settings no longer apply.
+[initialization]
+join-urls = ""
+
 # Control authentication
 # If not set authetication is DISABLED. Be sure to explicitly set this flag to
 # true if you want authentication. If authentication is enabled, and no administrative