diff --git a/seopardy.py b/seopardy.py
index 49d25ff..9458f94 100755
--- a/seopardy.py
+++ b/seopardy.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import sys
 from PySide import QtGui, QtCore
 
 from music import MusicBox
-from question import Questions
+from question import Questions, QuestionException
 from gamestate import GameState
 from game import SeopardyGame
 from config import check_config
@@ -24,7 +24,12 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
 	parser = _parser()
 	args = parser.parse_args()
 
-	questions = Questions(args.questions)
+	questions = None
+	try:
+		questions = Questions(args.questions)
+	except QuestionException as e:
+		print(str(e), file=sys.stderr)
+		sys.exit(1)
 
 	# start gui
 	app = QtGui.QApplication([sys.argv[0]])