diff --git a/app/__init__.py b/app/__init__.py
index 23739ce..8866c97 100644
--- a/app/__init__.py
+++ b/app/__init__.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-import os
 import sys
+import os
 
 from flask import Flask
 from flask_login import LoginManager
@@ -35,8 +35,8 @@ def load_user(user_id):
 try:
     from pdc_config import Config, ProdConfig, DevConfig, TestConfig
 except ImportError:
-    print("Please set a pdc_config.py file in you PYTHON_PATH")
-    print("See INSTALL.md for more info")
+    sys.stderr.write("ERROR: Please set a pdc_config.py file in you PYTHON_PATH\n")
+    sys.stderr.write("ERROR: See INSTALL.md for more info\n")
     sys.exit(-1)
 
 
diff --git a/resources/pdc_config.py b/resources/pdc_config.py
index 4edb6be..d73e0d2 100644
--- a/resources/pdc_config.py
+++ b/resources/pdc_config.py
@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
+import sys
 import os
-from db_config import *
+try:
+    from db_config import *
+except ImportError:
+    sys.stderr.write("ERROR: Please set a db_config.py file in you PYTHON_PATH\n")
+    sys.stderr.write("ERROR: See INSTALL.md for more info\n")
+    sys.exit(-1)
 
 root_dir = os.path.abspath(os.path.dirname(__file__))
 
--
libgit2 0.21.2