diff --git a/hgext/histedit.py b/hgext/histedit.py
--- a/hgext/histedit.py
+++ b/hgext/histedit.py
@@ -579,6 +579,10 @@ def _histedit(ui, repo, state, *freeargs
                     _('only one repo argument allowed with --outgoing'))
         else:
             revs.extend(freeargs)
+            if len(revs) == 0:
+                histeditdefault = ui.config('histedit', 'defaultrev')
+                if histeditdefault:
+                    revs.append(histeditdefault)
             if len(revs) != 1:
                 raise util.Abort(
                     _('histedit requires exactly one ancestor revision'))
diff --git a/tests/test-histedit-arguments.t b/tests/test-histedit-arguments.t
--- a/tests/test-histedit-arguments.t
+++ b/tests/test-histedit-arguments.t
@@ -103,6 +103,15 @@ Test that we pick the minimum of a revra
   0 files updated, 0 files merged, 0 files removed, 0 files unresolved
   $ hg up --quiet
 
+Test config specified default
+-----------------------------
+
+  $ HGEDITOR=cat hg histedit --config "histedit.defaultrev=only(.) - ::eb57da33312f" --commands - << EOF
+  > pick c8e68270e35a 3 four
+  > pick 08d98a8350f3 4 five
+  > EOF
+  0 files updated, 0 files merged, 0 files removed, 0 files unresolved
+
 Run on a revision not descendants of the initial parent
 --------------------------------------------------------------------