diff --git a/psoserv/README.md b/psoserv/README.md
index 32a74ed2..e0f9ffd1 100644
--- a/psoserv/README.md
+++ b/psoserv/README.md
@@ -2,8 +2,10 @@
 
 ## Configuration
 
-Put a config.json file in the directory where psoserv will run or pass
-the `--config=/path/to/config.json` parameter to specify a configuration file.
+Put a psoserv.conf file in the directory where psoserv will run or pass
+the `--config=/path/to/file.conf` parameter to specify a configuration file.
+The [HOCON](https://github.com/lightbend/config#using-hocon-the-json-superset) format is used to
+describe configurations.
 
 ## Proxy
 
@@ -11,55 +13,60 @@ Phantasmal PSO server can proxy any other PSO server. Below is a sample configur
 locally running Tethealla server using the standard Tethealla client. Be sure to modify
 tethealla.ini and set server port to 22000.
 
-```json
-{
-    "proxy": {
-        "bindAddress": "localhost",
-        "remoteAddress": "localhost",
-        "servers": [
-            {
-                "name": "patch_proxy",
-                "version": "PC",
-                "bindPort": 11000,
-                "remotePort": 21000
-            },
-            {
-                "name": "patch_data_proxy",
-                "version": "PC",
-                "bindPort": 11001,
-                "remotePort": 21001
-            },
-            {
-                "name": "login_proxy",
-                "version": "BB",
-                "bindPort": 12000,
-                "remotePort": 22000
-            },
-            {
-                "name": "character_proxy",
-                "version": "BB",
-                "bindPort": 12001,
-                "remotePort": 22001
-            },
-            {
-                "name": "ship_proxy",
-                "version": "BB",
-                "bindPort": 13000,
-                "remotePort": 5278
-            },
-            {
-                "name": "block_1_proxy",
-                "version": "BB",
-                "bindPort": 13001,
-                "remotePort": 5279
-            },
-            {
-                "name": "block_2_proxy",
-                "version": "BB",
-                "bindPort": 13002,
-                "remotePort": 5280
-            }
-        ]
+```hocon
+proxy: {
+  # Default local address used by all proxies, can be overwritten per proxy.
+  bindAddress: localhost
+  # Default address of the remote server used by all proxies, can be overwritten per proxy.
+  remoteAddress: localhost
+  # One server configuration per address/port pair that needs to be proxied.
+  servers: [
+    {
+      # Name used for e.g. the logs.
+      name: patch_proxy
+      # PC or BB, determines the message format encryption cipher used.
+      version: PC
+      # Local port the proxy will listen on.
+      bindPort: 11000
+      # Remote port the proxy will connect to.
+      remotePort: 21000
     }
+    {
+      name: patch_data_proxy
+      version: PC
+      bindPort: 11001
+      remotePort: 21001
+    }
+    {
+      name: login_proxy
+      version: BB
+      bindPort: 12000
+      remotePort: 22000
+    }
+    {
+      name: character_proxy
+      version: BB
+      bindPort: 12001
+      remotePort: 22001
+    }
+    {
+      name: ship_proxy
+      version: BB
+      bindPort: 13000
+      remotePort: 5278
+    }
+    {
+      name: block_1_proxy
+      version: BB
+      bindPort: 13001
+      remotePort: 5279
+    }
+    {
+      name: block_2_proxy
+      version: BB
+      bindPort: 13002
+      remotePort: 5280
+    }
+  ]
 }
 ```
diff --git a/psoserv/build.gradle.kts b/psoserv/build.gradle.kts
index a50e9b1b..e031e910 100644
--- a/psoserv/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/psoserv/build.gradle.kts
@@ -13,5 +13,5 @@ val serializationVersion: String by project.extra
 dependencies {
     implementation(project(":core"))
     implementation(project(":psolib"))
-    implementation("org.jetbrains.kotlinx:kotlinx-serialization-json:$serializationVersion")
+    implementation("org.jetbrains.kotlinx:kotlinx-serialization-hocon:$serializationVersion")
 }
diff --git a/psoserv/src/main/kotlin/world/phantasmal/psoserv/Main.kt b/psoserv/src/main/kotlin/world/phantasmal/psoserv/Main.kt
index a930ed60..1b31a191 100644
--- a/psoserv/src/main/kotlin/world/phantasmal/psoserv/Main.kt
+++ b/psoserv/src/main/kotlin/world/phantasmal/psoserv/Main.kt
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 package world.phantasmal.psoserv
 
-import kotlinx.serialization.decodeFromString
-import kotlinx.serialization.json.Json
+import com.typesafe.config.ConfigFactory
+import kotlinx.serialization.ExperimentalSerializationApi
+import kotlinx.serialization.hocon.Hocon
+import kotlinx.serialization.hocon.decodeFromConfig
 import mu.KotlinLogging
 import world.phantasmal.psoserv.encryption.BbCipher
 import world.phantasmal.psoserv.encryption.Cipher
@@ -47,22 +49,25 @@ fun main(args: Array<String>) {
 
         // Try default config file location if no file specified with --config argument.
         if (configFile == null) {
-            configFile = File("config.json").takeIf { it.isFile }
+            configFile = File("psoserv.conf").takeIf { it.isFile }
         }
 
-        val config: Config
-
         // Parse the config file if we found one, otherwise use default config.
-        if (configFile != null) {
+        val config: Config = if (configFile != null) {
             LOGGER.info { "Using configuration file $configFile." }
 
-            val json = Json {
-                ignoreUnknownKeys = true
+            if (!configFile.exists()) {
+                error(""""$configFile" does not exist.""")
+            } else if (!configFile.isFile) {
+                error(""""$configFile" is not a file.""")
+            } else if (!configFile.canRead()) {
+                error("""Don't have permission to read "$configFile".""")
             }
 
-            config = json.decodeFromString(configFile.readText())
+            @OptIn(ExperimentalSerializationApi::class)
+            Hocon.decodeFromConfig(ConfigFactory.parseFile(configFile))
         } else {
-            config = DEFAULT_CONFIG
+            DEFAULT_CONFIG
         }
 
         // Initialize and start the server.
@@ -70,7 +75,9 @@ fun main(args: Array<String>) {
 
         LOGGER.info { "Starting up." }
 
-        server.start()
+        if (!server.start()) {
+            LOGGER.info { "Nothing to do, stopping." }
+        }
     } catch (e: Throwable) {
         LOGGER.error(e) { "Failed to start up." }
     }
@@ -80,9 +87,10 @@ private class PhantasmalServer(
     private val servers: List<Server>,
     private val proxyServers: List<ProxyServer>,
 ) {
-    fun start() {
+    fun start(): Boolean {
         servers.forEach(Server::start)
         proxyServers.forEach(ProxyServer::start)
+        return servers.isNotEmpty() || proxyServers.isNotEmpty()
     }
 
     fun stop() {