diff --git a/api/config_file.go b/api/config_file.go
index 01b99ae..1797054 100644
--- a/api/config_file.go
+++ b/api/config_file.go
@@ -14,8 +14,11 @@ func configFileLoad(filepath string) error {
 
 	defer file.Close()
 
+	num := 0
 	scanner := bufio.NewScanner(file)
 	for scanner.Scan() {
+		num += 1
+
 		line := strings.TrimSpace(scanner.Text())
 		if line == "" {
 			continue
@@ -27,7 +30,8 @@ func configFileLoad(filepath string) error {
 
 		i := strings.Index(line, "=")
 		if i == -1 {
-			continue
+			logger.Errorf("%s: line %d: neither a comment nor a valid setting", filepath, num)
+			return errorInvalidConfigFile
 		}
 
 		key := line[:i]
diff --git a/api/errors.go b/api/errors.go
index 408c9e8..223a3f3 100644
--- a/api/errors.go
+++ b/api/errors.go
@@ -38,3 +38,4 @@ var errorNotADirectory = errors.New("The given path is not a directory.")
 var errorGzip = errors.New("Cannot GZip content.")
 var errorCannotDownloadDisqus = errors.New("We could not download your Disqus export file.")
 var errorSelfVote = errors.New("You cannot vote on your own comment.")
+var errorInvalidConfigFile = errors.New("Invalid config file.")