diff --git a/shairport.c b/shairport.c
index 4ced23928..bded41652 100644
--- a/shairport.c
+++ b/shairport.c
@@ -1207,8 +1207,8 @@ int parse_options(int argc, char **argv) {
 
     } else {
       if (config_error_type(&config_file_stuff) == CONFIG_ERR_FILE_IO)
-        debug(2, "Error reading configuration file \"%s\": \"%s\".",
-              config_error_file(&config_file_stuff), config_error_text(&config_file_stuff));
+        die("Error reading configuration file \"%s\": \"%s\".",
+              config_file_real_path, config_error_text(&config_file_stuff));
       else {
         die("Line %d of the configuration file \"%s\":\n%s", config_error_line(&config_file_stuff),
             config_error_file(&config_file_stuff), config_error_text(&config_file_stuff));