diff --git a/src/config_utils.py b/src/config_utils.py
index f2cc10e6..a680e017 100644
--- a/src/config_utils.py
+++ b/src/config_utils.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ from validate import Validator, ValidateError
 import os
 import string
 from logging import getLogger
+from wxUI import commonMessageDialogs
 log = getLogger("config_utils")
 
 class ConfigLoadError(Exception): pass
@@ -21,6 +22,7 @@ def load_config(config_path, configspec_path=None, copy=True, *args, **kwargs):
   return config
  else:
   log.exception("Error in config file: {0}".format(validated,))
+  commonMessageDialogs.invalid_configration()
 
 def is_blank(arg):
  "Check if a line is blank."
diff --git a/src/wxUI/commonMessageDialogs.py b/src/wxUI/commonMessageDialogs.py
index 8288af68..3e683a98 100644
--- a/src/wxUI/commonMessageDialogs.py
+++ b/src/wxUI/commonMessageDialogs.py
@@ -92,4 +92,7 @@ def common_error(reason):
  return wx.MessageDialog(None, reason, _(u"Error"), wx.OK).ShowModal()
 
 def dead_pid():
- return wx.MessageDialog(None, _(u"{0} quit unexpectedly the last time it was run. If the problem persists, please report it to the {0} developers.").format(application.name), _(u"Warning"), wx.OK).ShowModal()
\ No newline at end of file
+ return wx.MessageDialog(None, _(u"{0} quit unexpectedly the last time it was run. If the problem persists, please report it to the {0} developers.").format(application.name), _(u"Warning"), wx.OK).ShowModal()
+
+def invalid_configration():
+ return wx.MessageDialog(None, _(u"The configuration file is invalid."), _(u"Error"), wx.OK).ShowModal()
\ No newline at end of file