diff --git a/client-api/pvc-api.py b/client-api/pvc-api.py
index 68a1384d..b2d07c1b 100755
--- a/client-api/pvc-api.py
+++ b/client-api/pvc-api.py
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ try:
     # Set the config object in the api_provisioner namespace
     api_provisioner.config = config
 except Exception as e:
-    print('ERROR: {}.'.format(e))
+    print('ERROR: Failed to load configuration: {}'.format(e))
     exit(1)
 
 # Create Flask app and set config values
diff --git a/node-daemon/pvcd/Daemon.py b/node-daemon/pvcd/Daemon.py
index bb7b3abc..766d8b41 100644
--- a/node-daemon/pvcd/Daemon.py
+++ b/node-daemon/pvcd/Daemon.py
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ def readConfig(pvcd_config_file, myhostname):
             'ipmi_password': o_config['pvc']['system']['fencing']['ipmi']['pass']
         }
     except Exception as e:
-        print('ERROR: {}!'.format(e))
+        print('ERROR: Failed to load configuration: {}'.format(e))
         exit(1)
     config = config_general
 
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ def readConfig(pvcd_config_file, myhostname):
                 'upstream_dev_ip': o_config['pvc']['system']['configuration']['networking']['upstream']['address'],
             }
         except Exception as e:
-            print('ERROR: {}!'.format(e))
+            print('ERROR: Failed to load configuration: {}'.format(e))
             exit(1)
         config = {**config, **config_networking}
 
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ def readConfig(pvcd_config_file, myhostname):
         try:
             config_storage = dict()
         except Exception as e:
-            print('ERROR: {}!'.format(e))
+            print('ERROR: Failed to load configuration: {}'.format(e))
             exit(1)
         config = {**config, **config_storage}