diff --git a/clippy_lints/src/utils/conf.rs b/clippy_lints/src/utils/conf.rs
index c9d99617c1e2..4a223dfc0c3d 100644
--- a/clippy_lints/src/utils/conf.rs
+++ b/clippy_lints/src/utils/conf.rs
@@ -322,6 +322,9 @@ pub fn lookup_conf_file() -> io::Result<Option<PathBuf>> {
     let mut current = env::var_os("CLIPPY_CONF_DIR")
         .or_else(|| env::var_os("CARGO_MANIFEST_DIR"))
         .map_or_else(|| PathBuf::from("."), PathBuf::from);
+
+    let mut found_config: Option<PathBuf> = None;
+
     loop {
         for config_file_name in &CONFIG_FILE_NAMES {
             if let Ok(config_file) = current.join(config_file_name).canonicalize() {
@@ -329,11 +332,26 @@ pub fn lookup_conf_file() -> io::Result<Option<PathBuf>> {
                     Err(e) if e.kind() == io::ErrorKind::NotFound => {},
                     Err(e) => return Err(e),
                     Ok(md) if md.is_dir() => {},
-                    Ok(_) => return Ok(Some(config_file)),
+                    Ok(_) => {
+                        // warn if we happen to find two config files #8323
+                        if let Some(ref found_config_) = found_config {
+                            eprintln!(
+                                "Using config file `{}`\nWarning: `{}` will be ignored.",
+                                found_config_.canonicalize().unwrap().display(),
+                                config_file.canonicalize().unwrap().display(),
+                            );
+                        } else {
+                            found_config = Some(config_file);
+                        }
+                    },
                 }
             }
         }
 
+        if found_config.is_some() {
+            return Ok(found_config);
+        }
+
         // If the current directory has no parent, we're done searching.
         if !current.pop() {
             return Ok(None);
diff --git a/tests/ui-cargo/multiple_config_files/no_warn/Cargo.toml b/tests/ui-cargo/multiple_config_files/no_warn/Cargo.toml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..79c973cbfd2d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/ui-cargo/multiple_config_files/no_warn/Cargo.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+[package]
+name = "no_warn"
+version = "0.1.0"
+edition = "2021"
+
+# See more keys and their definitions at https://doc.rust-lang.org/cargo/reference/manifest.html
+
+[dependencies]
diff --git a/tests/ui-cargo/multiple_config_files/no_warn/clippy.toml b/tests/ui-cargo/multiple_config_files/no_warn/clippy.toml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..cda8d17eed44
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/ui-cargo/multiple_config_files/no_warn/clippy.toml
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+avoid-breaking-exported-api = false
diff --git a/tests/ui-cargo/multiple_config_files/no_warn/src/main.rs b/tests/ui-cargo/multiple_config_files/no_warn/src/main.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..e7a11a969c03
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/ui-cargo/multiple_config_files/no_warn/src/main.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+fn main() {
+    println!("Hello, world!");
+}
diff --git a/tests/ui-cargo/multiple_config_files/warn/.clippy.toml b/tests/ui-cargo/multiple_config_files/warn/.clippy.toml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..cda8d17eed44
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/ui-cargo/multiple_config_files/warn/.clippy.toml
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+avoid-breaking-exported-api = false
diff --git a/tests/ui-cargo/multiple_config_files/warn/Cargo.toml b/tests/ui-cargo/multiple_config_files/warn/Cargo.toml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..3d5c707579bc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/ui-cargo/multiple_config_files/warn/Cargo.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+[package]
+name = "warn"
+version = "0.1.0"
+edition = "2021"
+
+# See more keys and their definitions at https://doc.rust-lang.org/cargo/reference/manifest.html
+
+[dependencies]
diff --git a/tests/ui-cargo/multiple_config_files/warn/clippy.toml b/tests/ui-cargo/multiple_config_files/warn/clippy.toml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..cda8d17eed44
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/ui-cargo/multiple_config_files/warn/clippy.toml
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+avoid-breaking-exported-api = false
diff --git a/tests/ui-cargo/multiple_config_files/warn/src/main.rs b/tests/ui-cargo/multiple_config_files/warn/src/main.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..e7a11a969c03
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/ui-cargo/multiple_config_files/warn/src/main.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+fn main() {
+    println!("Hello, world!");
+}
diff --git a/tests/ui-cargo/multiple_config_files/warn/src/main.stderr b/tests/ui-cargo/multiple_config_files/warn/src/main.stderr
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..2abb4e3e06e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/ui-cargo/multiple_config_files/warn/src/main.stderr
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+Using config file `$SRC_DIR/tests/ui-cargo/multiple_config_files/warn/.clippy.toml`
+Warning: `$SRC_DIR/tests/ui-cargo/multiple_config_files/warn/clippy.toml` will be ignored.