diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index e1e14a0..a0ed73a 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 ## Next version
 
+- change config file format
 - add `ALIASES` variable to `Bot`
 - add `on_connected` function to `Client`
 
diff --git a/examples/echo/bot.conf b/examples/echo/bot.conf
index 87719ea..8d48222 100644
--- a/examples/echo/bot.conf
+++ b/examples/echo/bot.conf
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-[basic]
-name = EchoBot
+[general]
+nick = EchoBot
 
 [rooms]
 test
diff --git a/yaboli/bot.py b/yaboli/bot.py
index 23ecf32..7c96f29 100644
--- a/yaboli/bot.py
+++ b/yaboli/bot.py
@@ -21,14 +21,18 @@ class Bot(Client):
     HELP_SPECIFIC: Optional[List[str]] = None
     KILL_REPLY: str = "/me dies"
 
-    BASIC_SECTION = "basic"
+    GENERAL_SECTION = "general"
     ROOMS_SECTION = "rooms"
 
     def __init__(self, config_file: str) -> None:
         self.config = configparser.ConfigParser(allow_no_value=True)
         self.config.read(config_file)
 
-        super().__init__(self.config[self.BASIC_SECTION].get("name", ""))
+        nick = self.config[self.GENERAL_SECTION].get("nick")
+        if nick is None:
+            logger.warn("No nick set in config file. Defaulting to empty nick")
+            nick = ""
+        super().__init__(nick)
 
         self._commands: List[Command] = []