diff --git a/clippy_lints/src/lib.rs b/clippy_lints/src/lib.rs
index adc4f76fef9..d0e8def2786 100644
--- a/clippy_lints/src/lib.rs
+++ b/clippy_lints/src/lib.rs
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ pub mod write;
 pub mod zero_div_zero;
 // end lints modules, do not remove this comment, it’s used in `update_lints`
 
-use crate::utils::conf::Conf;
+pub use crate::utils::conf::Conf;
 
 mod reexport {
     crate use syntax::ast::{Name, NodeId};
diff --git a/clippy_lints/src/utils/conf.rs b/clippy_lints/src/utils/conf.rs
index a7e73d85cf0..8ec889a9fb6 100644
--- a/clippy_lints/src/utils/conf.rs
+++ b/clippy_lints/src/utils/conf.rs
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ macro_rules! define_Conf {
         mod helpers {
             use serde_derive::Deserialize;
             /// Type used to store lint configuration.
-            #[derive(Deserialize)]
+            #[derive(Default, Deserialize)]
             #[serde(rename_all="kebab-case", deny_unknown_fields)]
             pub struct Conf {
                 $(#[$doc] #[serde(default=$rust_name_str)] #[serde(with=$rust_name_str)]