diff --git a/lib/simple_config.py b/lib/simple_config.py
index 127b480be..64807c78e 100644
--- a/lib/simple_config.py
+++ b/lib/simple_config.py
@@ -154,7 +154,8 @@ a SimpleConfig instance then reads the wallet file.
             try:
                 d = ast.literal_eval( data )  #parse raw data from reading wallet file
             except Exception:
-                raise IOError("Cannot read config file.")
+                print_msg("Error: Cannot read config file.")
+                return
 
             self.user_config = d