diff --git a/traitlets/config/application.py b/traitlets/config/application.py
index d2ba8c87..ea20fbc5 100644
--- a/traitlets/config/application.py
+++ b/traitlets/config/application.py
@@ -899,6 +899,8 @@ def _load_config_files(
 
         yield each config object in turn.
         """
+        if os.path.isabs(basefilename):
+            path = None
         if isinstance(path, str) or path is None:
             path = [path]
         for current in reversed(path):