diff --git a/nanobot/cli/commands.py b/nanobot/cli/commands.py
index b1a15ebfd..53d17dfa8 100644
--- a/nanobot/cli/commands.py
+++ b/nanobot/cli/commands.py
@@ -1028,9 +1028,13 @@ def channels_status(
 ):
     """Show channel status."""
     from nanobot.channels.registry import discover_all
-    from nanobot.config.loader import load_config
+    from nanobot.config.loader import load_config, set_config_path
 
-    config = load_config(Path(config_path) if config_path else None)
+    resolved_config_path = Path(config_path).expanduser().resolve() if config_path else None
+    if resolved_config_path is not None:
+        set_config_path(resolved_config_path)
+
+    config = load_config(resolved_config_path)
 
     table = Table(title="Channel Status")
     table.add_column("Channel", style="cyan")
@@ -1121,9 +1125,13 @@ def channels_login(
 ):
     """Authenticate with a channel via QR code or other interactive login."""
     from nanobot.channels.registry import discover_all
-    from nanobot.config.loader import load_config
+    from nanobot.config.loader import load_config, set_config_path
 
-    config = load_config(Path(config_path) if config_path else None)
+    resolved_config_path = Path(config_path).expanduser().resolve() if config_path else None
+    if resolved_config_path is not None:
+        set_config_path(resolved_config_path)
+
+    config = load_config(resolved_config_path)
     channel_cfg = getattr(config.channels, channel_name, None) or {}
 
     # Validate channel exists
diff --git a/tests/channels/test_channel_plugins.py b/tests/channels/test_channel_plugins.py
index 93bf7f1d0..4cf4fab21 100644
--- a/tests/channels/test_channel_plugins.py
+++ b/tests/channels/test_channel_plugins.py
@@ -220,6 +220,57 @@ def test_channels_login_uses_discovered_plugin_class(monkeypatch):
     assert seen["force"] is True
 
 
+def test_channels_login_sets_custom_config_path(monkeypatch, tmp_path):
+    from nanobot.cli.commands import app
+    from nanobot.config.schema import Config
+    from typer.testing import CliRunner
+
+    runner = CliRunner()
+    seen: dict[str, object] = {}
+    config_path = tmp_path / "custom-config.json"
+
+    class _LoginPlugin(_FakePlugin):
+        async def login(self, force: bool = False) -> bool:
+            return True
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr("nanobot.config.loader.load_config", lambda config_path=None: Config())
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        "nanobot.config.loader.set_config_path",
+        lambda path: seen.__setitem__("config_path", path),
+    )
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        "nanobot.channels.registry.discover_all",
+        lambda: {"fakeplugin": _LoginPlugin},
+    )
+
+    result = runner.invoke(app, ["channels", "login", "fakeplugin", "--config", str(config_path)])
+
+    assert result.exit_code == 0
+    assert seen["config_path"] == config_path.resolve()
+
+
+def test_channels_status_sets_custom_config_path(monkeypatch, tmp_path):
+    from nanobot.cli.commands import app
+    from nanobot.config.schema import Config
+    from typer.testing import CliRunner
+
+    runner = CliRunner()
+    seen: dict[str, object] = {}
+    config_path = tmp_path / "custom-config.json"
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr("nanobot.config.loader.load_config", lambda config_path=None: Config())
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        "nanobot.config.loader.set_config_path",
+        lambda path: seen.__setitem__("config_path", path),
+    )
+    monkeypatch.setattr("nanobot.channels.registry.discover_all", lambda: {})
+
+    result = runner.invoke(app, ["channels", "status", "--config", str(config_path)])
+
+    assert result.exit_code == 0
+    assert seen["config_path"] == config_path.resolve()
+
+
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_manager_skips_disabled_plugin():
     fake_config = SimpleNamespace(