diff --git a/cmd/doggo/cli.go b/cmd/doggo/cli.go
index deebc4d..dd47d02 100644
--- a/cmd/doggo/cli.go
+++ b/cmd/doggo/cli.go
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ func main() {
 	// Resolver Options
 	f.Int("timeout", 5, "Sets the timeout for a query to T seconds. The default timeout is 5 seconds.")
 	f.Bool("search", true, "Use the search list provided in resolv.conf. It sets the `ndots` parameter as well unless overridden by `ndots` flag.")
-	f.Int("ndots", 0, "Specify the ndots parameter. Default value is taken from resolv.conf and fallbacks to 1 if ndots statement is missing in resolv.conf")
+	f.Int("ndots", -1, "Specify the ndots parameter. Default value is taken from resolv.conf and fallbacks to 1 if ndots statement is missing in resolv.conf")
 	f.BoolP("ipv4", "4", false, "Use IPv4 only")
 	f.BoolP("ipv6", "6", false, "Use IPv6 only")
 
diff --git a/cmd/doggo/nameservers.go b/cmd/doggo/nameservers.go
index 72c1bac..9ef279f 100644
--- a/cmd/doggo/nameservers.go
+++ b/cmd/doggo/nameservers.go
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ func (hub *Hub) loadNameservers() error {
 		}
 	}
 
+	// Set `ndots` to the user specified value.
+	hub.ResolverOpts.Ndots = hub.QueryFlags.Ndots
 	// fallback to system nameserver
 	// in case no nameserver is specified by user.
 	if len(hub.Nameservers) == 0 {
@@ -42,8 +44,9 @@ func (hub *Hub) loadNameservers() error {
 		if err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("error fetching system default nameserver")
 		}
-		// override if user hasn't specified any value.
-		if hub.QueryFlags.Ndots == 0 {
+		// `-1` indicates the flag is not set.
+		// use from config if user hasn't specified any value.
+		if hub.ResolverOpts.Ndots == -1 {
 			hub.ResolverOpts.Ndots = ndots
 		}
 		if len(search) > 0 && hub.QueryFlags.UseSearchList {
@@ -51,6 +54,11 @@ func (hub *Hub) loadNameservers() error {
 		}
 		hub.Nameservers = append(hub.Nameservers, ns...)
 	}
+	// if the user hasn't given any override of `ndots` AND has
+	// given a custom nameserver. Set `ndots` to 1 as the fallback value
+	if hub.ResolverOpts.Ndots == -1 {
+		hub.ResolverOpts.Ndots = 1
+	}
 	return nil
 }