diff --git a/config.py b/config.py
index bbb20e4..561571c 100644
--- a/config.py
+++ b/config.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ class DefaultUser:
     datafile: Path = datadir / PATHS.datafile
     ignorefile: Path = datadir / PATHS.ignorefile
     settingsfile: Path = datadir / PATHS.settingsfile
-    lastlogin: float
+    lastlogin: str = "0.0"
     browser: str = "lynx"
 
     def save(self):
@@ -68,21 +68,15 @@ def is_readable(st_mode: int) -> bool:
 def init():
     """Performs startup checks to ensure environment is set up for use
 
-    Creates necessary data directory and data file. If they exist, no error
-    occurs.
-    Checks that the data directory and data file are group and other readable.
-    Sets some correct permissions if they are not.
-    Other errors may raise an exception.
+    If required, creates necessary data directory and data file.
+    If required, sets permissions to ensure the data directory and data file
+    are group and other readable.
+    Finally, tries to load the linkulator user configuration file, overwriting
+    with defaults if any issues.
     """
 
     USER.datadir.mkdir(mode=0o755, exist_ok=True)
 
-    if not USER.settingsfile.is_file():
-        with open(USER.settingsfile, "w+") as the_file:
-            the_file.write(
-                "[User Status]\nlastlogin = 0.0\n\n[User Settings]\nbrowser = lynx"
-            )
-
     if not is_readable(USER.datadir.stat().st_mode):
         print(
             "Warning: %s is not group or other readable - changing permissions"
diff --git a/tests/config_test.py b/tests/config_test.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7cef21a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/config_test.py
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""Tests for Linkulator configuration"""
+
+import unittest
+import config
+
+
+class TestConfigDefaults(unittest.TestCase):
+    """Tests covering configuration default settings"""
+
+    def test_default_values_set(self):
+        """Test for issue reported in #74"""
+        # ensure config.USER.lastlogin exists and is a string
+        self.assertIsInstance(config.USER.lastlogin, str)
+        # ensure config.USER.lastlogin can be compared to string value
+        self.assertGreaterEqual(config.USER.lastlogin, "0.0")