diff --git a/lib/cmds/blockchain/blockchain.js b/lib/cmds/blockchain/blockchain.js
index e83167bc..4b1a9bd4 100644
--- a/lib/cmds/blockchain/blockchain.js
+++ b/lib/cmds/blockchain/blockchain.js
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ var Blockchain = function(options) {
 
 Blockchain.prototype.runCommand = function(cmd) {
   console.log(("running: " + cmd.underline).green);
-  return shelljs.exec(cmd);
+  return shelljs.exec(cmd, {async:true});
 };
 
 Blockchain.prototype.run = function() {
diff --git a/lib/index.js b/lib/index.js
index 7037f224..5435e03a 100644
--- a/lib/index.js
+++ b/lib/index.js
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ var Embark = (function () {
 
     var engine = new Engine({
       env: options.env,
-      embarkConfig: 'embark.json'
+      embarkConfig: options.embarkConfig || 'embark.json'
     });
     engine.init();
 
diff --git a/lib/pipeline/watch.js b/lib/pipeline/watch.js
index d1b1c8b7..3d137798 100644
--- a/lib/pipeline/watch.js
+++ b/lib/pipeline/watch.js
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ Watch.prototype.start = function() {
    var self = this;
   // TODO: should come from the config object instead of reading the file
   // directly
-  var embarkConfig = fs.readJSONSync("embark.json");
+  var embarkConfig = fs.readJSONSync('./../../../../../server/embark.json');
 
   this.watchAssets(embarkConfig, function() {
     self.logger.trace('ready to watch asset changes');