diff --git a/prosopopoee b/prosopopoee
index 4800dfe..6ab3a6f 100755
--- a/prosopopoee
+++ b/prosopopoee
@@ -1,9 +1,14 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 
 import os
+import sys
 
 
 def main():
+    if not os.path.exists("settings.yaml") or not os.path.exists("settings.yml"):
+        sys.stderr.write("I can't find a settings.yaml or settings.yml, abort")
+        sys.exit(1)
+
     if not os.path.exists("build"):
         os.makedirs("build")