diff --git a/cmd/goal/list.go b/cmd/goal/list.go
index 26bb81638dec656b09d9619301524c3ef4437aac..67843b5cae2d8b17ba6232835fe54a8ad8cabbe4 100644
--- a/cmd/goal/list.go
+++ b/cmd/goal/list.go
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ func runList(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string) error {
 
 	areaKey, _ := cmd.Flags().GetString("area")
 	showAll, _ := cmd.Flags().GetBool("all")
+	usingDefault := areaKey == "" && !showAll && cfg.Defaults.Area != ""
 
 	areas := filterAreas(cfg, areaKey, showAll)
 	if len(areas) == 0 {
@@ -55,7 +56,11 @@ func runList(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string) error {
 
 	goals := collectGoals(areas)
 	if len(goals) == 0 {
-		fmt.Fprintln(cmd.OutOrStdout(), "No goals configured")
+		if usingDefault {
+			fmt.Fprintf(cmd.OutOrStdout(), "No goals configured in %s area\n", cfg.Defaults.Area)
+		} else {
+			fmt.Fprintln(cmd.OutOrStdout(), "No goals configured")
+		}
 
 		return nil
 	}