diff --git a/src/kiwi/config.py b/src/kiwi/config.py
index 84cc462..ac56457 100644
--- a/src/kiwi/config.py
+++ b/src/kiwi/config.py
@@ -113,20 +113,18 @@ class LoadedConfig(Config):
     __instances = {}
 
     @classmethod
-    def get(cls):
-        cwd = os.getcwd()
-
-        if cwd not in LoadedConfig.__instances:
+    def get(cls, directory='.'):
+        if directory not in LoadedConfig.__instances:
             # create singleton for new path
             result = DefaultConfig.get()
 
-            # update with current dir's kiwi.yml
+            # update with that dir's kiwi.yml
             try:
-                result = result._update_from_file(KIWI_CONF_NAME)
+                result = result._update_from_file(os.path.join(directory, KIWI_CONF_NAME))
             except FileNotFoundError:
-                logging.info(f"No '{KIWI_CONF_NAME}' found at '{cwd}'. Using defaults.")
+                logging.info(f"No '{KIWI_CONF_NAME}' found at '{directory}'. Using defaults.")
 
-            LoadedConfig.__instances[cwd] = result
+            LoadedConfig.__instances[directory] = result
 
         # return singleton
-        return LoadedConfig.__instances[cwd]
+        return LoadedConfig.__instances[directory]
diff --git a/src/kiwi/projects.py b/src/kiwi/projects.py
index 4459363..65c75d0 100644
--- a/src/kiwi/projects.py
+++ b/src/kiwi/projects.py
@@ -35,10 +35,10 @@ class Projects:
         return result
 
     @classmethod
-    def from_dir(cls):
+    def from_dir(cls, directory='.'):
         return cls.from_projects([
             Project.from_file_name(file_name)
-            for file_name in os.listdir()
+            for file_name in os.listdir(directory)
         ])
 
     @classmethod
diff --git a/src/kiwi/subcommands/conf.py b/src/kiwi/subcommands/conf.py
index 86a379e..bfbd933 100644
--- a/src/kiwi/subcommands/conf.py
+++ b/src/kiwi/subcommands/conf.py
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ class ConfCleanCommand(SubCommand):
         result = True
 
         affected_projects = [
-            project.conf_dir_name()
+            project.get_name()
             for project in Projects.from_dir()
             if project.has_configs()
         ]