Watch history file stored in current directory when running with `--no-config`

mpv Information

mpv v0.40.0 Copyright © 2000-2025 mpv/MPlayer/mplayer2 projects
libplacebo version: v7.349.0
FFmpeg version: 7.1.1-1+b1
FFmpeg library versions:
   libavcodec      61.19.101
   libavdevice     61.3.100
   libavfilter     10.4.100
   libavformat     61.7.100
   libavutil       59.39.100
   libswresample   5.3.100
   libswscale      8.3.100

Other Information

- Linux version: Debian GNU/Linux unstable (sid)
- Kernel Version: Linux host 6.12.27-amd64 #1 SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC Debian 6.12.27-1 (2025-05-06) x86_64 GNU/Linux
- GPU Model:
- Mesa/GPU Driver Version:
- Window Manager and Version:
- Source of mpv: Debian package
- Latest known working version:
- Issue started after the following happened:

Reproduction Steps

Run

mpv --no-config --save-watch-history 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ'

Expected Behavior

Watch history file should be stored in ~~state/watch_history.jsonl as documented in the man page.

Actual Behavior

Watch history file is stored the current directory.

Log File

output.txt

Sample Files

No response

I carefully read all instruction and confirm that I did the following:

• I tested with the latest mpv version to validate that the issue is not already fixed.
• I provided all required information including system and mpv version.
• I produced the log file with the exact same set of files, parameters, and conditions used in "Reproduction Steps", with the addition of --log-file=output.txt.
• I produced the log file while the behaviors described in "Actual Behavior" were actively observed.
• I attached the full, untruncated log file.
• I attached the backtrace in the case of a crash.

Start by reproducing the command with mpv --no-config --save-watch-history and compare the actual file location with the man page's ~~state/watch_history.jsonl expectation. Then trace the --no-config and --save-watch-history entry points using the attached output.txt; done means the history file is stored in the documented state path rather than the current directory.