diff --git a/homeassistant/bootstrap.py b/homeassistant/bootstrap.py
index 196a00dda7c..81ae4eb6e18 100644
--- a/homeassistant/bootstrap.py
+++ b/homeassistant/bootstrap.py
@@ -110,8 +110,7 @@ async def async_setup_hass(
     runtime_config: RuntimeConfig,
 ) -> core.HomeAssistant | None:
     """Set up Home Assistant."""
-    hass = core.HomeAssistant()
-    hass.config.config_dir = runtime_config.config_dir
+    hass = core.HomeAssistant(runtime_config.config_dir)
 
     async_enable_logging(
         hass,
@@ -178,14 +177,13 @@ async def async_setup_hass(
         old_config = hass.config
         old_logging = hass.data.get(DATA_LOGGING)
 
-        hass = core.HomeAssistant()
+        hass = core.HomeAssistant(old_config.config_dir)
         if old_logging:
             hass.data[DATA_LOGGING] = old_logging
         hass.config.skip_pip = old_config.skip_pip
         hass.config.skip_pip_packages = old_config.skip_pip_packages
         hass.config.internal_url = old_config.internal_url
         hass.config.external_url = old_config.external_url
-        hass.config.config_dir = old_config.config_dir
         # Setup loader cache after the config dir has been set
         loader.async_setup(hass)
 
diff --git a/homeassistant/components/cloud/client.py b/homeassistant/components/cloud/client.py
index 7bd80000ca4..6fbcfc30f69 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/cloud/client.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/cloud/client.py
@@ -54,7 +54,6 @@ class CloudClient(Interface):
     @property
     def base_path(self) -> Path:
         """Return path to base dir."""
-        assert self._hass.config.config_dir is not None
         return Path(self._hass.config.config_dir)
 
     @property
diff --git a/homeassistant/components/file/notify.py b/homeassistant/components/file/notify.py
index 3238fe91102..ca0deb89c7b 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/file/notify.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/file/notify.py
@@ -51,9 +51,6 @@ class FileNotificationService(BaseNotificationService):
     def send_message(self, message: str = "", **kwargs: Any) -> None:
         """Send a message to a file."""
         file: TextIO
-        if not self.hass.config.config_dir:
-            return
-
         filepath: str = os.path.join(self.hass.config.config_dir, self.filename)
         with open(filepath, "a", encoding="utf8") as file:
             if os.stat(filepath).st_size == 0:
diff --git a/homeassistant/components/homematicip_cloud/services.py b/homeassistant/components/homematicip_cloud/services.py
index a8393ff88ac..09457ce0792 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/homematicip_cloud/services.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/homematicip_cloud/services.py
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ async def _set_active_climate_profile(
 async def _async_dump_hap_config(hass: HomeAssistant, service: ServiceCall) -> None:
     """Service to dump the configuration of a Homematic IP Access Point."""
     config_path: str = (
-        service.data.get(ATTR_CONFIG_OUTPUT_PATH) or hass.config.config_dir or "."
+        service.data.get(ATTR_CONFIG_OUTPUT_PATH) or hass.config.config_dir
     )
     config_file_prefix = service.data[ATTR_CONFIG_OUTPUT_FILE_PREFIX]
     anonymize = service.data[ATTR_ANONYMIZE]
diff --git a/homeassistant/components/system_log/__init__.py b/homeassistant/components/system_log/__init__.py
index f025013cc2b..cba8082d23c 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/system_log/__init__.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/system_log/__init__.py
@@ -234,7 +234,6 @@ async def async_setup(hass: HomeAssistant, config: ConfigType) -> bool:
 
     hass_path: str = HOMEASSISTANT_PATH[0]
     config_dir = hass.config.config_dir
-    assert config_dir is not None
     paths_re = re.compile(
         r"(?:{})/(.*)".format("|".join([re.escape(x) for x in (hass_path, config_dir)]))
     )
diff --git a/homeassistant/components/verisure/camera.py b/homeassistant/components/verisure/camera.py
index c9d98041a2c..a240d45cf7e 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/verisure/camera.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/verisure/camera.py
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@ async def async_setup_entry(
         VerisureSmartcam.capture_smartcam.__name__,
     )
 
-    assert hass.config.config_dir
     async_add_entities(
         VerisureSmartcam(coordinator, serial_number, hass.config.config_dir)
         for serial_number in coordinator.data["cameras"]
diff --git a/homeassistant/components/zha/core/gateway.py b/homeassistant/components/zha/core/gateway.py
index 1f3a71f4cbf..1320e77ba3c 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/zha/core/gateway.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/zha/core/gateway.py
@@ -802,7 +802,6 @@ class LogRelayHandler(logging.Handler):
 
         hass_path: str = HOMEASSISTANT_PATH[0]
         config_dir = self.hass.config.config_dir
-        assert config_dir is not None
         paths_re = re.compile(
             r"(?:{})/(.*)".format(
                 "|".join([re.escape(x) for x in (hass_path, config_dir)])
diff --git a/homeassistant/config.py b/homeassistant/config.py
index eed296baf0e..0d9e1d9034e 100644
--- a/homeassistant/config.py
+++ b/homeassistant/config.py
@@ -337,7 +337,6 @@ async def async_create_default_config(hass: HomeAssistant) -> bool:
 
     Return if creation was successful.
     """
-    assert hass.config.config_dir
     return await hass.async_add_executor_job(
         _write_default_config, hass.config.config_dir
     )
@@ -390,10 +389,7 @@ async def async_hass_config_yaml(hass: HomeAssistant) -> dict:
     This function allow a component inside the asyncio loop to reload its
     configuration by itself. Include package merge.
     """
-    if hass.config.config_dir is None:
-        secrets = None
-    else:
-        secrets = Secrets(Path(hass.config.config_dir))
+    secrets = Secrets(Path(hass.config.config_dir))
 
     # Not using async_add_executor_job because this is an internal method.
     config = await hass.loop.run_in_executor(
diff --git a/homeassistant/core.py b/homeassistant/core.py
index a025eacd4bc..140cf203e70 100644
--- a/homeassistant/core.py
+++ b/homeassistant/core.py
@@ -288,13 +288,13 @@ class HomeAssistant:
     http: HomeAssistantHTTP = None  # type: ignore[assignment]
     config_entries: ConfigEntries = None  # type: ignore[assignment]
 
-    def __new__(cls) -> HomeAssistant:
+    def __new__(cls, config_dir: str) -> HomeAssistant:
         """Set the _hass thread local data."""
         hass = super().__new__(cls)
         _hass.hass = hass
         return hass
 
-    def __init__(self) -> None:
+    def __init__(self, config_dir: str) -> None:
         """Initialize new Home Assistant object."""
         self.loop = asyncio.get_running_loop()
         self._tasks: set[asyncio.Future[Any]] = set()
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ class HomeAssistant:
         self.bus = EventBus(self)
         self.services = ServiceRegistry(self)
         self.states = StateMachine(self.bus, self.loop)
-        self.config = Config(self)
+        self.config = Config(self, config_dir)
         self.components = loader.Components(self)
         self.helpers = loader.Helpers(self)
         # This is a dictionary that any component can store any data on.
@@ -2011,7 +2011,7 @@ class ServiceRegistry:
 class Config:
     """Configuration settings for Home Assistant."""
 
-    def __init__(self, hass: HomeAssistant) -> None:
+    def __init__(self, hass: HomeAssistant, config_dir: str) -> None:
         """Initialize a new config object."""
         self.hass = hass
 
@@ -2047,7 +2047,7 @@ class Config:
         self.api: ApiConfig | None = None
 
         # Directory that holds the configuration
-        self.config_dir: str | None = None
+        self.config_dir: str = config_dir
 
         # List of allowed external dirs to access
         self.allowlist_external_dirs: set[str] = set()
@@ -2078,8 +2078,6 @@ class Config:
 
         Async friendly.
         """
-        if self.config_dir is None:
-            raise HomeAssistantError("config_dir is not set")
         return os.path.join(self.config_dir, *path)
 
     def is_allowed_external_url(self, url: str) -> bool:
diff --git a/homeassistant/helpers/check_config.py b/homeassistant/helpers/check_config.py
index a580c013cd0..1e1cac050f1 100644
--- a/homeassistant/helpers/check_config.py
+++ b/homeassistant/helpers/check_config.py
@@ -94,8 +94,6 @@ async def async_check_ha_config_file(  # noqa: C901
         if not await hass.async_add_executor_job(os.path.isfile, config_path):
             return result.add_error("File configuration.yaml not found.")
 
-        assert hass.config.config_dir is not None
-
         config = await hass.async_add_executor_job(
             load_yaml_config_file,
             config_path,
diff --git a/homeassistant/loader.py b/homeassistant/loader.py
index 340888a2f7a..697e47187ce 100644
--- a/homeassistant/loader.py
+++ b/homeassistant/loader.py
@@ -1148,17 +1148,13 @@ async def _async_component_dependencies(
     return loaded
 
 
-def _async_mount_config_dir(hass: HomeAssistant) -> bool:
+def _async_mount_config_dir(hass: HomeAssistant) -> None:
     """Mount config dir in order to load custom_component.
 
     Async friendly but not a coroutine.
     """
-    if hass.config.config_dir is None:
-        _LOGGER.error("Can't load integrations - configuration directory is not set")
-        return False
     if hass.config.config_dir not in sys.path:
         sys.path.insert(0, hass.config.config_dir)
-    return True
 
 
 def _lookup_path(hass: HomeAssistant) -> list[str]:
diff --git a/homeassistant/scripts/auth.py b/homeassistant/scripts/auth.py
index 11ab6aadfbf..5714e5814a4 100644
--- a/homeassistant/scripts/auth.py
+++ b/homeassistant/scripts/auth.py
@@ -50,8 +50,7 @@ def run(args):
 
 async def run_command(args):
     """Run the command."""
-    hass = HomeAssistant()
-    hass.config.config_dir = os.path.join(os.getcwd(), args.config)
+    hass = HomeAssistant(os.path.join(os.getcwd(), args.config))
     hass.auth = await auth_manager_from_config(hass, [{"type": "homeassistant"}], [])
     provider = hass.auth.auth_providers[0]
     await provider.async_initialize()
diff --git a/homeassistant/scripts/benchmark/__init__.py b/homeassistant/scripts/benchmark/__init__.py
index 3627e4096d3..a04493a8935 100644
--- a/homeassistant/scripts/benchmark/__init__.py
+++ b/homeassistant/scripts/benchmark/__init__.py
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ def run(args):
 
 async def run_benchmark(bench):
     """Run a benchmark."""
-    hass = core.HomeAssistant()
+    hass = core.HomeAssistant("")
     runtime = await bench(hass)
     print(f"Benchmark {bench.__name__} done in {runtime}s")
     await hass.async_stop()
diff --git a/homeassistant/scripts/check_config.py b/homeassistant/scripts/check_config.py
index 7c4a200bbc5..5c81c4664da 100644
--- a/homeassistant/scripts/check_config.py
+++ b/homeassistant/scripts/check_config.py
@@ -231,9 +231,8 @@ def check(config_dir, secrets=False):
 
 async def async_check_config(config_dir):
     """Check the HA config."""
-    hass = core.HomeAssistant()
+    hass = core.HomeAssistant(config_dir)
     loader.async_setup(hass)
-    hass.config.config_dir = config_dir
     hass.config_entries = ConfigEntries(hass, {})
     await ar.async_load(hass)
     await dr.async_load(hass)
diff --git a/homeassistant/scripts/ensure_config.py b/homeassistant/scripts/ensure_config.py
index 6dbda59522f..786b16ca923 100644
--- a/homeassistant/scripts/ensure_config.py
+++ b/homeassistant/scripts/ensure_config.py
@@ -39,8 +39,7 @@ def run(args):
 
 async def async_run(config_dir):
     """Make sure config exists."""
-    hass = HomeAssistant()
-    hass.config.config_dir = config_dir
+    hass = HomeAssistant(config_dir)
     path = await config_util.async_ensure_config_exists(hass)
     await hass.async_stop(force=True)
     return path
diff --git a/tests/common.py b/tests/common.py
index 95947719ef4..6f2209276ce 100644
--- a/tests/common.py
+++ b/tests/common.py
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ def get_test_home_assistant():
 
 async def async_test_home_assistant(event_loop, load_registries=True):
     """Return a Home Assistant object pointing at test config dir."""
-    hass = HomeAssistant()
+    hass = HomeAssistant(get_test_config_dir())
     store = auth_store.AuthStore(hass)
     hass.auth = auth.AuthManager(hass, store, {}, {})
     ensure_auth_manager_loaded(hass.auth)
@@ -231,7 +231,6 @@ async def async_test_home_assistant(event_loop, load_registries=True):
     hass.data[loader.DATA_CUSTOM_COMPONENTS] = {}
 
     hass.config.location_name = "test home"
-    hass.config.config_dir = get_test_config_dir()
     hass.config.latitude = 32.87336
     hass.config.longitude = -117.22743
     hass.config.elevation = 0
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index 31900dff6de..f90984e1c7b 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -552,8 +552,8 @@ async def stop_hass(
 
     created = []
 
-    def mock_hass():
-        hass_inst = orig_hass()
+    def mock_hass(*args):
+        hass_inst = orig_hass(*args)
         created.append(hass_inst)
         return hass_inst
 
diff --git a/tests/test_core.py b/tests/test_core.py
index 9f6e5aeb2dd..4f7916e757b 100644
--- a/tests/test_core.py
+++ b/tests/test_core.py
@@ -1428,7 +1428,7 @@ async def test_serviceregistry_return_response_optional(
 async def test_config_defaults() -> None:
     """Test config defaults."""
     hass = Mock()
-    config = ha.Config(hass)
+    config = ha.Config(hass, "/test/ha-config")
     assert config.hass is hass
     assert config.latitude == 0
     assert config.longitude == 0
@@ -1442,7 +1442,7 @@ async def test_config_defaults() -> None:
     assert config.skip_pip_packages == []
     assert config.components == set()
     assert config.api is None
-    assert config.config_dir is None
+    assert config.config_dir == "/test/ha-config"
     assert config.allowlist_external_dirs == set()
     assert config.allowlist_external_urls == set()
     assert config.media_dirs == {}
@@ -1455,22 +1455,19 @@ async def test_config_defaults() -> None:
 
 async def test_config_path_with_file() -> None:
     """Test get_config_path method."""
-    config = ha.Config(None)
-    config.config_dir = "/test/ha-config"
+    config = ha.Config(None, "/test/ha-config")
     assert config.path("test.conf") == "/test/ha-config/test.conf"
 
 
 async def test_config_path_with_dir_and_file() -> None:
     """Test get_config_path method."""
-    config = ha.Config(None)
-    config.config_dir = "/test/ha-config"
+    config = ha.Config(None, "/test/ha-config")
     assert config.path("dir", "test.conf") == "/test/ha-config/dir/test.conf"
 
 
 async def test_config_as_dict() -> None:
     """Test as dict."""
-    config = ha.Config(None)
-    config.config_dir = "/test/ha-config"
+    config = ha.Config(None, "/test/ha-config")
     config.hass = MagicMock()
     type(config.hass.state).value = PropertyMock(return_value="RUNNING")
     expected = {
@@ -1501,7 +1498,7 @@ async def test_config_as_dict() -> None:
 
 async def test_config_is_allowed_path() -> None:
     """Test is_allowed_path method."""
-    config = ha.Config(None)
+    config = ha.Config(None, "/test/ha-config")
     with TemporaryDirectory() as tmp_dir:
         # The created dir is in /tmp. This is a symlink on OS X
         # causing this test to fail unless we resolve path first.
@@ -1533,7 +1530,7 @@ async def test_config_is_allowed_path() -> None:
 
 async def test_config_is_allowed_external_url() -> None:
     """Test is_allowed_external_url method."""
-    config = ha.Config(None)
+    config = ha.Config(None, "/test/ha-config")
     config.allowlist_external_urls = [
         "http://x.com/",
         "https://y.com/bla/",
@@ -1584,7 +1581,7 @@ async def test_start_taking_too_long(
     event_loop, caplog: pytest.LogCaptureFixture
 ) -> None:
     """Test when async_start takes too long."""
-    hass = ha.HomeAssistant()
+    hass = ha.HomeAssistant("/test/ha-config")
     caplog.set_level(logging.WARNING)
     hass.async_create_task(asyncio.sleep(0))
 
@@ -1751,7 +1748,7 @@ async def test_additional_data_in_core_config(
     hass: HomeAssistant, hass_storage: dict[str, Any]
 ) -> None:
     """Test that we can handle additional data in core configuration."""
-    config = ha.Config(hass)
+    config = ha.Config(hass, "/test/ha-config")
     hass_storage[ha.CORE_STORAGE_KEY] = {
         "version": 1,
         "data": {"location_name": "Test Name", "additional_valid_key": "value"},
@@ -1764,7 +1761,7 @@ async def test_incorrect_internal_external_url(
     hass: HomeAssistant, hass_storage: dict[str, Any], caplog: pytest.LogCaptureFixture
 ) -> None:
     """Test that we warn when detecting invalid internal/external url."""
-    config = ha.Config(hass)
+    config = ha.Config(hass, "/test/ha-config")
 
     hass_storage[ha.CORE_STORAGE_KEY] = {
         "version": 1,
@@ -1777,7 +1774,7 @@ async def test_incorrect_internal_external_url(
     assert "Invalid external_url set" not in caplog.text
     assert "Invalid internal_url set" not in caplog.text
 
-    config = ha.Config(hass)
+    config = ha.Config(hass, "/test/ha-config")
 
     hass_storage[ha.CORE_STORAGE_KEY] = {
         "version": 1,