diff --git a/internal/config/config_file_test.go b/internal/config/config_file_test.go
index 8ee938f31..100c065f3 100644
--- a/internal/config/config_file_test.go
+++ b/internal/config/config_file_test.go
@@ -22,10 +22,10 @@ hosts:
 `, "")()
 	config, err := parseConfig("config.yml")
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
-	user, err := config.GetOrDefault("github.com", "user")
+	user, err := config.Get("github.com", "user")
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Equal(t, "monalisa", user)
-	token, err := config.GetOrDefault("github.com", "oauth_token")
+	token, err := config.Get("github.com", "oauth_token")
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Equal(t, "OTOKEN", token)
 }
@@ -42,10 +42,10 @@ hosts:
 `, "")()
 	config, err := parseConfig("config.yml")
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
-	user, err := config.GetOrDefault("github.com", "user")
+	user, err := config.Get("github.com", "user")
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Equal(t, "monalisa", user)
-	token, err := config.GetOrDefault("github.com", "oauth_token")
+	token, err := config.Get("github.com", "oauth_token")
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Equal(t, "OTOKEN", token)
 }
@@ -58,10 +58,10 @@ github.com:
 `)()
 	config, err := parseConfig("config.yml")
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
-	user, err := config.GetOrDefault("github.com", "user")
+	user, err := config.Get("github.com", "user")
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Equal(t, "monalisa", user)
-	token, err := config.GetOrDefault("github.com", "oauth_token")
+	token, err := config.Get("github.com", "oauth_token")
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Equal(t, "OTOKEN", token)
 }
diff --git a/internal/config/config_type_test.go b/internal/config/config_type_test.go
index dd46a7c2e..c16455bcc 100644
--- a/internal/config/config_type_test.go
+++ b/internal/config/config_type_test.go
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ func Test_defaultConfig(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Equal(t, "https", proto)
 
-	editor, err := cfg.GetOrDefault("", "editor")
+	editor, err := cfg.Get("", "editor")
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Equal(t, "", editor)
 
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ func Test_defaultConfig(t *testing.T) {
 	expansion, _ := aliases.Get("co")
 	assert.Equal(t, expansion, "pr checkout")
 
-	browser, err := cfg.GetOrDefault("", "browser")
+	browser, err := cfg.Get("", "browser")
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Equal(t, "", browser)
 }
diff --git a/internal/config/from_env_test.go b/internal/config/from_env_test.go
index 59856021d..bf81c7976 100644
--- a/internal/config/from_env_test.go
+++ b/internal/config/from_env_test.go
@@ -301,11 +301,11 @@ func TestInheritEnv(t *testing.T) {
 			hosts, _ := cfg.Hosts()
 			assert.Equal(t, tt.wants.hosts, hosts)
 
-			val, source, _ := cfg.GetOrDefaultWithSource(tt.hostname, "oauth_token")
+			val, source, _ := cfg.GetWithSource(tt.hostname, "oauth_token")
 			assert.Equal(t, tt.wants.token, val)
 			assert.Regexp(t, tt.wants.source, source)
 
-			val, _ = cfg.GetOrDefault(tt.hostname, "oauth_token")
+			val, _ = cfg.Get(tt.hostname, "oauth_token")
 			assert.Equal(t, tt.wants.token, val)
 
 			err := cfg.CheckWriteable(tt.hostname, "oauth_token")
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/auth/gitcredential/helper.go b/pkg/cmd/auth/gitcredential/helper.go
index 67c1c28c4..8d1ab7ff3 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/auth/gitcredential/helper.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/auth/gitcredential/helper.go
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ import (
 const tokenUser = "x-access-token"
 
 type config interface {
-	GetOrDefaultWithSource(string, string) (string, string, error)
+	GetWithSource(string, string) (string, string, error)
 }
 
 type CredentialOptions struct {
@@ -101,11 +101,11 @@ func helperRun(opts *CredentialOptions) error {
 	}
 
 	var gotUser string
-	gotToken, source, _ := cfg.GetOrDefaultWithSource(wants["host"], "oauth_token")
+	gotToken, source, _ := cfg.GetWithSource(wants["host"], "oauth_token")
 	if strings.HasSuffix(source, "_TOKEN") {
 		gotUser = tokenUser
 	} else {
-		gotUser, _, _ = cfg.GetOrDefaultWithSource(wants["host"], "user")
+		gotUser, _, _ = cfg.GetWithSource(wants["host"], "user")
 	}
 
 	if gotUser == "" || gotToken == "" {
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/auth/gitcredential/helper_test.go b/pkg/cmd/auth/gitcredential/helper_test.go
index 053dd8f69..2a2b8de38 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/auth/gitcredential/helper_test.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/auth/gitcredential/helper_test.go
@@ -11,12 +11,12 @@ import (
 // why not just use the config stub argh
 type tinyConfig map[string]string
 
-func (c tinyConfig) GetOrDefaultWithSource(host, key string) (string, string, error) {
+func (c tinyConfig) GetWithSource(host, key string) (string, string, error) {
 	return c[fmt.Sprintf("%s:%s", host, key)], c["_source"], nil
 }
 
-func (c tinyConfig) GetOrDefault(host, key string) (val string, err error) {
-	val, _, err = c.GetOrDefaultWithSource(host, key)
+func (c tinyConfig) Get(host, key string) (val string, err error) {
+	val, _, err = c.GetWithSource(host, key)
 	return
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/auth/login/login.go b/pkg/cmd/auth/login/login.go
index f8896de1a..f591fcbc6 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/auth/login/login.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/auth/login/login.go
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ func loginRun(opts *LoginOptions) error {
 		return cfg.Write()
 	}
 
-	existingToken, _ := cfg.GetOrDefault(hostname, "oauth_token")
+	existingToken, _ := cfg.Get(hostname, "oauth_token")
 	if existingToken != "" && opts.Interactive {
 		if err := shared.HasMinimumScopes(httpClient, hostname, existingToken); err == nil {
 			var keepGoing bool
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/auth/logout/logout.go b/pkg/cmd/auth/logout/logout.go
index f48e59db2..3873da324 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/auth/logout/logout.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/auth/logout/logout.go
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ func logoutRun(opts *LogoutOptions) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		// suppressing; the user is trying to delete this token and it might be bad.
 		// we'll see if the username is in the config and fall back to that.
-		username, _ = cfg.GetOrDefault(hostname, "user")
+		username, _ = cfg.Get(hostname, "user")
 	}
 
 	usernameStr := ""
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/auth/refresh/refresh.go b/pkg/cmd/auth/refresh/refresh.go
index c4b15003e..402646aff 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/auth/refresh/refresh.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/auth/refresh/refresh.go
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ func refreshRun(opts *RefreshOptions) error {
 	}
 
 	var additionalScopes []string
-	if oldToken, _ := cfg.GetOrDefault(hostname, "oauth_token"); oldToken != "" {
+	if oldToken, _ := cfg.Get(hostname, "oauth_token"); oldToken != "" {
 		if oldScopes, err := shared.GetScopes(opts.httpClient, hostname, oldToken); err == nil {
 			for _, s := range strings.Split(oldScopes, ",") {
 				s = strings.TrimSpace(s)
@@ -159,8 +159,8 @@ func refreshRun(opts *RefreshOptions) error {
 	}
 
 	if credentialFlow.ShouldSetup() {
-		username, _ := cfg.GetOrDefault(hostname, "user")
-		password, _ := cfg.GetOrDefault(hostname, "oauth_token")
+		username, _ := cfg.Get(hostname, "user")
+		password, _ := cfg.Get(hostname, "oauth_token")
 		if err := credentialFlow.Setup(hostname, username, password); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/auth/shared/login_flow.go b/pkg/cmd/auth/shared/login_flow.go
index 2ba31b1a9..0bac49b35 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/auth/shared/login_flow.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/auth/shared/login_flow.go
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 type iconfig interface {
-	GetOrDefault(string, string) (string, error)
+	Get(string, string) (string, error)
 	Set(string, string, string) error
 	Write() error
 }
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ func Login(opts *LoginOptions) error {
 
 	var username string
 	if userValidated {
-		username, _ = cfg.GetOrDefault(hostname, "user")
+		username, _ = cfg.Get(hostname, "user")
 	} else {
 		apiClient := api.NewClientFromHTTP(httpClient)
 		var err error
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/auth/shared/login_flow_test.go b/pkg/cmd/auth/shared/login_flow_test.go
index 1290aa176..530e34045 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/auth/shared/login_flow_test.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/auth/shared/login_flow_test.go
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ import (
 
 type tinyConfig map[string]string
 
-func (c tinyConfig) GetOrDefault(host, key string) (string, error) {
+func (c tinyConfig) Get(host, key string) (string, error) {
 	return c[fmt.Sprintf("%s:%s", host, key)], nil
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/auth/status/status.go b/pkg/cmd/auth/status/status.go
index a7578f1e2..e09273e99 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/auth/status/status.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/auth/status/status.go
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ func statusRun(opts *StatusOptions) error {
 		}
 		isHostnameFound = true
 
-		token, tokenSource, _ := cfg.GetOrDefaultWithSource(hostname, "oauth_token")
+		token, tokenSource, _ := cfg.GetWithSource(hostname, "oauth_token")
 		tokenIsWriteable := cfg.CheckWriteable(hostname, "oauth_token") == nil
 
 		statusInfo[hostname] = []string{}
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/config/get/get_test.go b/pkg/cmd/config/get/get_test.go
index f376c773d..46f187394 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/config/get/get_test.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/config/get/get_test.go
@@ -117,6 +117,8 @@ func Test_getRun(t *testing.T) {
 			assert.Equal(t, tt.stderr, stderr.String())
 			_, err = tt.input.Config.GetOrDefault("", "_written")
 			assert.Error(t, err)
+			_, err = tt.input.Config.Get("", "_written")
+			assert.Error(t, err)
 		})
 	}
 }
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/factory/default.go b/pkg/cmd/factory/default.go
index 8c15e0235..0ede60f61 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/factory/default.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/factory/default.go
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ func browserLauncher(f *cmdutil.Factory) string {
 
 	cfg, err := f.Config()
 	if err == nil {
-		if cfgBrowser, _ := cfg.GetOrDefault("", "browser"); cfgBrowser != "" {
+		if cfgBrowser, _ := cfg.Get("", "browser"); cfgBrowser != "" {
 			return cfgBrowser
 		}
 	}
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ func ioStreams(f *cmdutil.Factory) *iostreams.IOStreams {
 	// 3. PAGER
 	if ghPager, ghPagerExists := os.LookupEnv("GH_PAGER"); ghPagerExists {
 		io.SetPager(ghPager)
-	} else if pager, _ := cfg.GetOrDefault("", "pager"); pager != "" {
+	} else if pager, _ := cfg.Get("", "pager"); pager != "" {
 		io.SetPager(pager)
 	}
 
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/factory/http.go b/pkg/cmd/factory/http.go
index 2db083557..d1b8b54ed 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/factory/http.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/factory/http.go
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ var timezoneNames = map[int]string{
 
 type configGetter interface {
 	GetOrDefault(string, string) (string, error)
+	Get(string, string) (string, error)
 }
 
 // generic authenticated HTTP client for commands
@@ -73,7 +74,7 @@ func NewHTTPClient(io *iostreams.IOStreams, cfg configGetter, appVersion string,
 	// which would use that non-default behavior is right here, and it doesn't
 	// seem worth the cognitive overhead everywhere else just to serve this one
 	// use case.
-	unixSocket, err := cfg.GetOrDefault("", "http_unix_socket")
+	unixSocket, err := cfg.Get("", "http_unix_socket")
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -92,7 +93,7 @@ func NewHTTPClient(io *iostreams.IOStreams, cfg configGetter, appVersion string,
 		api.AddHeader("User-Agent", fmt.Sprintf("GitHub CLI %s", appVersion)),
 		api.AddHeaderFunc("Authorization", func(req *http.Request) (string, error) {
 			hostname := ghinstance.NormalizeHostname(getHost(req))
-			if token, err := cfg.GetOrDefault(hostname, "oauth_token"); err == nil && token != "" {
+			if token, err := cfg.Get(hostname, "oauth_token"); err == nil && token != "" {
 				return fmt.Sprintf("token %s", token), nil
 			}
 			return "", nil
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/factory/http_test.go b/pkg/cmd/factory/http_test.go
index f5e11bd1e..0039289a7 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/factory/http_test.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/factory/http_test.go
@@ -161,6 +161,10 @@ func (c tinyConfig) GetOrDefault(host, key string) (string, error) {
 	return c[fmt.Sprintf("%s:%s", host, key)], nil
 }
 
+func (c tinyConfig) Get(host, key string) (string, error) {
+	return c[fmt.Sprintf("%s:%s", host, key)], nil
+}
+
 var requestAtRE = regexp.MustCompile(`(?m)^\* Request at .+`)
 var dateRE = regexp.MustCompile(`(?m)^< Date: .+`)
 var hostWithPortRE = regexp.MustCompile(`127\.0\.0\.1:\d+`)
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/factory/remote_resolver.go b/pkg/cmd/factory/remote_resolver.go
index a197c41a2..44cd0242d 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/factory/remote_resolver.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/factory/remote_resolver.go
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ func (rr *remoteResolver) Resolver() func() (context.Remotes, error) {
 			dummyHostname := "example.com" // any non-github.com hostname is fine here
 			if config.IsHostEnv(src) {
 				return nil, fmt.Errorf("none of the git remotes configured for this repository correspond to the %s environment variable. Try adding a matching remote or unsetting the variable.", src)
-			} else if v, src, _ := cfg.GetOrDefaultWithSource(dummyHostname, "oauth_token"); v != "" && config.IsEnterpriseEnv(src) {
+			} else if v, src, _ := cfg.GetWithSource(dummyHostname, "oauth_token"); v != "" && config.IsEnterpriseEnv(src) {
 				return nil, errors.New("set the GH_HOST environment variable to specify which GitHub host to use")
 			}
 			return nil, errors.New("none of the git remotes configured for this repository point to a known GitHub host. To tell gh about a new GitHub host, please use `gh auth login`")
diff --git a/pkg/cmdutil/auth_check.go b/pkg/cmdutil/auth_check.go
index dc340dc51..3da9cfcfd 100644
--- a/pkg/cmdutil/auth_check.go
+++ b/pkg/cmdutil/auth_check.go
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ func CheckAuth(cfg config.Config) bool {
 	}
 
 	for _, hostname := range hosts {
-		token, _ := cfg.GetOrDefault(hostname, "oauth_token")
+		token, _ := cfg.Get(hostname, "oauth_token")
 		if token != "" {
 			return true
 		}
diff --git a/pkg/cmdutil/legacy.go b/pkg/cmdutil/legacy.go
index 617d359b4..19400f1cc 100644
--- a/pkg/cmdutil/legacy.go
+++ b/pkg/cmdutil/legacy.go
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ func DetermineEditor(cf func() (config.Config, error)) (string, error) {
 		if err != nil {
 			return "", fmt.Errorf("could not read config: %w", err)
 		}
-		editorCommand, _ = cfg.GetOrDefault("", "editor")
+		editorCommand, _ = cfg.Get("", "editor")
 	}
 
 	return editorCommand, nil