diff --git a/commands/add.py b/commands/add.py
index 1b1a943..d29b6b3 100644
--- a/commands/add.py
+++ b/commands/add.py
@@ -1,22 +1,9 @@
 """Add task command."""
 
 import json
-from pathlib import Path
 
-
-def get_tasks_file():
-    """Get path to tasks file."""
-    return Path.home() / ".local" / "share" / "task-cli" / "tasks.json"
-
-
-def validate_description(description):
-    """Validate task description."""
-    # NOTE: Validation logic scattered here - should be in utils (refactor bounty)
-    if not description:
-        raise ValueError("Description cannot be empty")
-    if len(description) > 200:
-        raise ValueError("Description too long (max 200 chars)")
-    return description.strip()
+from utils.paths import get_tasks_file
+from utils.validation import validate_description
 
 
 def add_task(description):
diff --git a/commands/done.py b/commands/done.py
index c9dfd42..ec3c0c4 100644
--- a/commands/done.py
+++ b/commands/done.py
@@ -1,20 +1,9 @@
 """Mark task done command."""
 
 import json
-from pathlib import Path
 
-
-def get_tasks_file():
-    """Get path to tasks file."""
-    return Path.home() / ".local" / "share" / "task-cli" / "tasks.json"
-
-
-def validate_task_id(tasks, task_id):
-    """Validate task ID exists."""
-    # NOTE: Validation logic scattered here - should be in utils (refactor bounty)
-    if task_id < 1 or task_id > len(tasks):
-        raise ValueError(f"Invalid task ID: {task_id}")
-    return task_id
+from utils.paths import get_tasks_file
+from utils.validation import validate_task_id
 
 
 def mark_done(task_id):
diff --git a/commands/list.py b/commands/list.py
index 714315d..d9fb9f0 100644
--- a/commands/list.py
+++ b/commands/list.py
@@ -1,26 +1,12 @@
 """List tasks command."""
 
 import json
-from pathlib import Path
 
-
-def get_tasks_file():
-    """Get path to tasks file."""
-    return Path.home() / ".local" / "share" / "task-cli" / "tasks.json"
-
-
-def validate_task_file():
-    """Validate tasks file exists."""
-    # NOTE: Validation logic scattered here - should be in utils (refactor bounty)
-    tasks_file = get_tasks_file()
-    if not tasks_file.exists():
-        return []
-    return tasks_file
+from utils.validation import validate_task_file
 
 
 def list_tasks():
     """List all tasks."""
-    # NOTE: No --json flag support yet (feature bounty)
     tasks_file = validate_task_file()
     if not tasks_file:
         print("No tasks yet!")
diff --git a/task.py b/task.py
index 53cc8ed..9638a05 100644
--- a/task.py
+++ b/task.py
@@ -13,7 +13,10 @@
 def load_config():
     """Load configuration from file."""
     config_path = Path.home() / ".config" / "task-cli" / "config.yaml"
-    # NOTE: This will crash if config doesn't exist - known bug for bounty testing
+    if not config_path.exists():
+        raise FileNotFoundError(
+            f"Config not found at {config_path}. Copy config.yaml.example to this location to get started."
+        )
     with open(config_path) as f:
         return f.read()
 
@@ -35,6 +38,12 @@ def main():
 
     args = parser.parse_args()
 
+    try:
+        load_config()
+    except FileNotFoundError as e:
+        print(str(e), file=sys.stderr)
+        sys.exit(1)
+
     if args.command == "add":
         add_task(args.description)
     elif args.command == "list":
diff --git a/test_task.py b/test_task.py
index ba98e43..34b30ba 100644
--- a/test_task.py
+++ b/test_task.py
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 """Basic tests for task CLI."""
 
-import json
 import pytest
 from pathlib import Path
 from commands.add import add_task, validate_description
 from commands.done import validate_task_id
+from task import load_config
 
 
 def test_validate_description():
@@ -28,3 +28,20 @@ def test_validate_task_id():
 
     with pytest.raises(ValueError):
         validate_task_id(tasks, 99)
+
+
+def test_load_config_missing_file(monkeypatch, tmp_path):
+    """Missing config should raise a friendly FileNotFoundError."""
+    monkeypatch.setattr(Path, "home", lambda: tmp_path)
+    with pytest.raises(FileNotFoundError, match="config.yaml.example"):
+        load_config()
+
+
+def test_load_config_success(monkeypatch, tmp_path):
+    """Existing config should be loaded successfully."""
+    monkeypatch.setattr(Path, "home", lambda: tmp_path)
+    config_dir = tmp_path / ".config" / "task-cli"
+    config_dir.mkdir(parents=True)
+    config_file = config_dir / "config.yaml"
+    config_file.write_text("theme: default\n")
+    assert load_config() == "theme: default\n"
diff --git a/utils/__init__.py b/utils/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..91a7322
--- /dev/null
+++ b/utils/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+"""Utility helpers for task CLI."""
diff --git a/utils/paths.py b/utils/paths.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4ce0eef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/utils/paths.py
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+"""Shared path helpers."""
+
+from pathlib import Path
+
+
+def get_tasks_file():
+    """Get path to tasks file."""
+    return Path.home() / ".local" / "share" / "task-cli" / "tasks.json"
diff --git a/utils/validation.py b/utils/validation.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..571f56e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/utils/validation.py
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+"""Shared validation helpers."""
+
+from utils.paths import get_tasks_file
+
+
+def validate_description(description):
+    """Validate task description."""
+    if not description:
+        raise ValueError("Description cannot be empty")
+    if len(description) > 200:
+        raise ValueError("Description too long (max 200 chars)")
+    return description.strip()
+
+
+def validate_task_file():
+    """Validate tasks file exists."""
+    tasks_file = get_tasks_file()
+    if not tasks_file.exists():
+        return []
+    return tasks_file
+
+
+def validate_task_id(tasks, task_id):
+    """Validate task ID exists."""
+    if task_id < 1 or task_id > len(tasks):
+        raise ValueError(f"Invalid task ID: {task_id}")
+    return task_id