diff --git a/cmd/task/list.go b/cmd/task/list.go
index 0a33e702913493df24c01b8217b58a27e7d1b256..6efb9741e1a314976af983c6f600c9181034d687 100644
--- a/cmd/task/list.go
+++ b/cmd/task/list.go
@@ -106,19 +106,32 @@ func mustGetBoolFlag(cmd *cobra.Command, name string) bool {
 
 func resolveAreaFilter(cmd *cobra.Command) (string, error) {
 	areaKey := mustGetStringFlag(cmd, "area")
-	if areaKey == "" {
-		return "", nil
-	}
 
 	cfg, err := config.Load()
 	if err != nil {
+		// Config not required if no area flag and we just skip default
 		if errors.Is(err, config.ErrNotFound) {
-			fmt.Fprintln(cmd.ErrOrStderr(), ui.Error.Render("Config not found; run 'lune init' to configure areas"))
+			if areaKey != "" {
+				fmt.Fprintln(cmd.ErrOrStderr(), ui.Error.Render("Config not found; run 'lune init' to configure areas"))
+
+				return "", err
+			}
+
+			return "", nil
 		}
 
 		return "", err
 	}
 
+	// Use default area if no explicit flag
+	if areaKey == "" {
+		areaKey = cfg.Defaults.Area
+	}
+
+	if areaKey == "" {
+		return "", nil
+	}
+
 	area := cfg.AreaByKey(areaKey)
 	if area == nil {
 		fmt.Fprintln(cmd.ErrOrStderr(), ui.Error.Render("Unknown area: "+areaKey))