diff --git a/virtme_ng/run.py b/virtme_ng/run.py
index 0e88db4..b8b8da3 100644
--- a/virtme_ng/run.py
+++ b/virtme_ng/run.py
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ def make_parser():
         "--kconfig",
         "-k",
         action="store_true",
-        help="Only generate the kernel .config without building/running anything",
+        help="Only override the kernel .config without building/running anything",
     )
 
     parser.add_argument(
@@ -408,7 +408,8 @@ def make_parser():
         "--force",
         action="store_true",
         help="Force reset git repository to target branch or commit "
-        "(warning: this may drop uncommitted changes)",
+        "(warning: this may drop uncommitted changes), "
+        "and force kernel config override",
     )
 
     parser.add_argument(
@@ -565,7 +566,9 @@ def checkout(self, args):
     def config(self, args):
         """Perform a make config operation on a kernel source directory."""
         arch = args.arch
-        cmd = "virtme-configkernel --defconfig --no-update"
+        cmd = "virtme-configkernel --defconfig"
+        if not args.force and not args.kconfig:
+            cmd += " --no-update"
         if arch is not None:
             if arch not in ARCH_MAPPING:
                 arg_fail(f"unsupported architecture: {arch}")