diff --git a/src/api/main.cpp b/src/api/main.cpp
index e8641c50..7b2dff21 100644
--- a/src/api/main.cpp
+++ b/src/api/main.cpp
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ bool loadSettings( int32_t argc, char* argv[] )
   if( !m_pConfig->loadConfig( configPath ) )
   {
     g_log.fatal( "Error loading config " + configPath );
+    g_log.fatal( "If this is the first time starting the server, we've copied the default one for your editing pleasure." );
     return false;
   }
 
@@ -140,9 +141,11 @@ bool loadSettings( int32_t argc, char* argv[] )
   }
 
   g_log.info( "Setting up generated EXD data" );
-  if( !g_exdDataGen.init( m_pConfig->getValue< std::string >( "GlobalParameters", "DataPath", "" ) ) )
+  auto dataPath = m_pConfig->getValue< std::string >( "GlobalParameters", "DataPath", "" );
+  if( !g_exdDataGen.init( dataPath ) )
   {
-    g_log.fatal( "Error setting up generated EXD data " );
+    g_log.fatal( "Error setting up generated EXD data. Make sure that DataPath is set correctly in config.ini" );
+    g_log.fatal( "DataPath: " + dataPath );
     return false;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/common/Config/ConfigMgr.cpp b/src/common/Config/ConfigMgr.cpp
index d4c9cddc..b1e975f2 100644
--- a/src/common/Config/ConfigMgr.cpp
+++ b/src/common/Config/ConfigMgr.cpp
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@ bool Sapphire::ConfigMgr::loadConfig( const std::string& configName )
 
   if( !fs::exists( configFile ) )
   {
-    if( !copyDefaultConfig( configName ) )
-      return false;
+    copyDefaultConfig( configName );
+    return false;
   }
 
   m_pInih = std::unique_ptr< INIReader >( new INIReader( configFile.string() ) );
diff --git a/src/lobby/ServerLobby.cpp b/src/lobby/ServerLobby.cpp
index bfaaeb53..e084889a 100644
--- a/src/lobby/ServerLobby.cpp
+++ b/src/lobby/ServerLobby.cpp
@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@ bool ServerLobby::loadSettings( int32_t argc, char* argv[] )
   if( !m_pConfig->loadConfig( m_configPath ) )
   {
     g_log.fatal( "Error loading config " + m_configPath );
+    g_log.fatal( "If this is the first time starting the server, we've copied the default one for your editing pleasure." );
     return false;
   }
   std::vector< std::string > args( argv + 1, argv + argc );
diff --git a/src/world/ServerMgr.cpp b/src/world/ServerMgr.cpp
index b1b92588..270e0423 100644
--- a/src/world/ServerMgr.cpp
+++ b/src/world/ServerMgr.cpp
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ bool Sapphire::ServerMgr::loadSettings( int32_t argc, char* argv[] )
   if( !pConfig->loadConfig( m_configName ) )
   {
     pLog->fatal( "Error loading config " + m_configName );
+    pLog->fatal( "If this is the first time starting the server, we've copied the default one for your editing pleasure." );
     return false;
   }
 
@@ -100,9 +101,11 @@ void Sapphire::ServerMgr::run( int32_t argc, char* argv[] )
 
   pLog->info( "Setting up generated EXD data" );
   auto pExdData = std::make_shared< Data::ExdDataGenerated >();
-  if( !pExdData->init( pConfig->getValue< std::string >( "GlobalParameters", "DataPath", "" ) ) )
+  auto dataPath = pConfig->getValue< std::string >( "GlobalParameters", "DataPath", "" );
+  if( !pExdData->init( dataPath ) )
   {
-    pLog->fatal( "Error setting up generated EXD data " );
+    pLog->fatal( "Error setting up generated EXD data. Make sure that DataPath is set correctly in config.ini" );
+    pLog->fatal( "DataPath: " + dataPath );
     return;
   }
   g_fw.set< Data::ExdDataGenerated >( pExdData );