It enters config mode during inventory collection.
I can't remember the exact command it enters while there; but the behavior is documented in BugID CSCut31699.
It was supposed to be fixed in PI 3.0 but that BugID is not listed in the resolved caveats section of the 3.0 release notes.
I'll check the 3.0 system I have when I get a chance to see if it's still behaving that way.