diff --git a/cmd/cheat/str_config.go b/cmd/cheat/str_config.go
index 5039c1e..02beccb 100644
--- a/cmd/cheat/str_config.go
+++ b/cmd/cheat/str_config.go
@@ -24,7 +24,9 @@ colorize: false
 formatter: terminal
 
 # Through which pager should output be piped?
-# pager: less -FRX # <- recommended where available
+# 'less -FRX' is recommended on Unix systems
+# 'more' is recommended on Windows
+pager: PAGER_PATH
 
 # The paths at which cheatsheets are available. Tags associated with a cheatpath
 # are automatically attached to all cheatsheets residing on that path.
diff --git a/configs/conf.yml b/configs/conf.yml
index 448e9c5..c18797d 100644
--- a/configs/conf.yml
+++ b/configs/conf.yml
@@ -15,7 +15,9 @@ colorize: false
 formatter: terminal
 
 # Through which pager should output be piped?
-# pager: less -FRX # <- recommended where available
+# 'less -FRX' is recommended on Unix systems
+# 'more' is recommended on Windows
+pager: PAGER_PATH
 
 # The paths at which cheatsheets are available. Tags associated with a cheatpath
 # are automatically attached to all cheatsheets residing on that path.
diff --git a/internal/config/config.go b/internal/config/config.go
index 71002d9..7a51fa4 100644
--- a/internal/config/config.go
+++ b/internal/config/config.go
@@ -3,9 +3,7 @@ package config
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
-	"os/exec"
 	"path/filepath"
-	"runtime"
 	"strings"
 
 	cp "github.com/cheat/cheat/internal/cheatpath"
@@ -93,28 +91,11 @@ func New(opts map[string]interface{}, confPath string, resolve bool) (Config, er
 		conf.Cheatpaths[i].Path = expanded
 	}
 
-	// if an editor was not provided in the configs, look to envvars
+	// if an editor was not provided in the configs, attempt to choose one
+	// that's appropriate for the environment
 	if conf.Editor == "" {
-		if os.Getenv("VISUAL") != "" {
-			conf.Editor = os.Getenv("VISUAL")
-		} else if os.Getenv("EDITOR") != "" {
-			conf.Editor = os.Getenv("EDITOR")
-		} else if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
-			conf.Editor = "notepad"
-		} else {
-			// try to fall back to `nano`
-			path, err := exec.LookPath("nano")
-			if err != nil {
-				return Config{}, fmt.Errorf("failed to locate nano: %s", err)
-			}
-
-			// use `nano` if we found it
-			if path != "" {
-				conf.Editor = "nano"
-				// otherwise, give up
-			} else {
-				return Config{}, fmt.Errorf("no editor set")
-			}
+		if conf.Editor, err = Editor(); err != nil {
+			return Config{}, err
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -128,39 +109,8 @@ func New(opts map[string]interface{}, confPath string, resolve bool) (Config, er
 		conf.Formatter = "terminal"
 	}
 
-	// attempt to fall back to `PAGER` if a pager is not specified in configs
+	// load the pager
 	conf.Pager = strings.TrimSpace(conf.Pager)
-	if conf.Pager == "" {
-		// look for `pager`, `less`, and `more` on the system PATH
-		pagerPath, _ := exec.LookPath("pager")
-		lessPath, _ := exec.LookPath("less")
-		morePath, _ := exec.LookPath("more")
-
-		// search first for a `PAGER` envvar
-		if os.Getenv("PAGER") != "" {
-			conf.Pager = os.Getenv("PAGER")
-
-			// search for `pager`
-		} else if pagerPath != "" {
-			conf.Pager = pagerPath
-
-			// search for `less`
-		} else if lessPath != "" {
-			conf.Pager = lessPath
-
-			// search for `more`
-			//
-			// XXX: this causes issues on some Linux systems. See:
-			// https://github.com/cheat/cheat/issues/681#issuecomment-1201842334
-			//
-			// By checking for `more` last, we're hoping to at least mitigate
-			// the frequency of this occurrence, because `pager` and `less` are
-			// likely to be available on most systems on which a user is likely
-			// to have installed `cheat`.
-		} else if morePath != "" {
-			conf.Pager = morePath
-		}
-	}
 
 	return conf, nil
 }
diff --git a/internal/config/editor.go b/internal/config/editor.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..73087cc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/config/editor.go
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+package config
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"os/exec"
+	"runtime"
+)
+
+// Editor attempts to locate an editor that's appropriate for the environment.
+func Editor() (string, error) {
+
+	// default to `notepad.exe` on Windows
+	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
+		return "notepad", nil
+	}
+
+	// look for `nano` on the `PATH`
+	nano, _ := exec.LookPath("nano")
+
+	// search for `$VISUAL`, `$EDITOR`, and then `nano`, in that order
+	for _, editor := range []string{os.Getenv("VISUAL"), os.Getenv("EDITOR"), nano} {
+		if editor != "" {
+			return editor, nil
+		}
+	}
+
+	// return an error if no path is found
+	return "", fmt.Errorf("no editor set")
+}
diff --git a/internal/config/pager.go b/internal/config/pager.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1b26638
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/config/pager.go
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+package config
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"os/exec"
+)
+
+// Pager attempts to locate a pager that's appropriate for the environment.
+func Pager() string {
+
+	// if $PAGER is set, return the corresponding pager
+	if os.Getenv("PAGER") != "" {
+		return os.Getenv("PAGER")
+	}
+
+	// Otherwise, search for `pager`, `less`, and `more` on the `$PATH`. If
+	// none are found, return an empty pager.
+	for _, pager := range []string{"pager", "less", "more"} {
+		if path, err := exec.LookPath(pager); err != nil {
+			return path
+		}
+	}
+
+	// default to no pager
+	return ""
+}
diff --git a/internal/installer/run.go b/internal/installer/run.go
index 02133b6..7fc22ad 100644
--- a/internal/installer/run.go
+++ b/internal/installer/run.go
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ func Run(configs string, confpath string) error {
 	// template the above paths into the default configs
 	configs = strings.Replace(configs, "COMMUNITY_PATH", community, -1)
 	configs = strings.Replace(configs, "PERSONAL_PATH", personal, -1)
+	configs = strings.Replace(configs, "PAGER_PATH", config.Pager(), -1)
 
 	// prompt the user to download the community cheatsheets
 	yes, err := Prompt(