diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index af95c685..fa9e8a38 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ byobu (5.30) unreleased; urgency=low
     - the sed found in Mac OS X seems to really prefer a -e before expression
   * usr/share/byobu/pixmaps/Byobu.png:
     - image added for Mac OS X packaging
+  * usr/bin/byobu-config:
+    - throw an error message when we can't import snack
 
  -- Dustin Kirkland <kirkland@ubuntu.com>  Sat, 19 Jan 2013 14:18:01 -0600
 
diff --git a/usr/bin/byobu-config b/usr/bin/byobu-config
index 03125930..2c7ca317 100755
--- a/usr/bin/byobu-config
+++ b/usr/bin/byobu-config
@@ -29,9 +29,11 @@ import string
 import subprocess
 import gettext
 import glob
-import snack
-from snack import *
-
+try:
+	import snack
+	from snack import *
+except:
+	error("Could not import the python snack module")
 PKG = "byobu"
 HOME = os.getenv("HOME")
 USER = os.getenv("USER")