diff --git a/dr.botzo.py b/dr.botzo.py
index 89425be..d71d8e9 100644
--- a/dr.botzo.py
+++ b/dr.botzo.py
@@ -75,8 +75,8 @@ try:
             conn.execute(query)
             conn.commit()
     finally: conn.close()
-except NoOptionError: pass # if the config file has no db property, assume that
-except NoSectionError: pass # the database doesn't need to exist
+except NoOptionError as e:
+    sys.exit("Aborted due to error with necessary configuration: " + str(e))
 
 # start up the IRC bot