diff --git a/terminatorlib/config.py b/terminatorlib/config.py
index ce9e0010..4103b6c2 100755
--- a/terminatorlib/config.py
+++ b/terminatorlib/config.py
@@ -210,7 +210,21 @@ class TerminatorConfValuestoreRC (TerminatorConfValuestore):
       try:
         ini.parse()
       except ParsedWithErrors, e:
-        sys.stderr.write(str(e))
+        import gtk
+        from cgi import escape
+        msg = _("""Errors were encountered while parsing terminator_config(5) file:
+
+  <b>%s</b>
+
+Some lines have been ignored.""") % escape(repr(self.rcfilename))
+        errs = "\n\n".join(map(lambda error:
+              _(" * %(message)s, line %(lnum)d:\n    <tt>%(line)s</tt>\n    <tt>%(pad)s^</tt>") % {
+              'message': error.message, 'file': escape(error.file), 'lnum': error.lnum,
+              'line': escape(error.line.rstrip()), 'pad': '-' * error.pos}, e.errors))
+        dialog = gtk.MessageDialog(None, gtk.DIALOG_MODAL, gtk.MESSAGE_ERROR, gtk.BUTTONS_OK)
+        dialog.set_markup(msg + "\n\n" + errs)
+        dialog.run()
+        dialog.destroy()
 
       for key in ini.settings:
         try:
diff --git a/terminatorlib/configfile.py b/terminatorlib/configfile.py
index f1a3dd25..ad347166 100644
--- a/terminatorlib/configfile.py
+++ b/terminatorlib/configfile.py
@@ -89,7 +89,8 @@ class ConfigFile:
       while True:
         mo = QuotedStrings[chr].match(self._line, self._pos)
         if mo is None:
-          raise ConfigSyntaxError("Unterminated quoted string", self)
+          self.parse_error(_("Unterminated quoted string"))
+          return False
         self._pos = mo.end()
         if self._line[self._pos - 2] == '\\':
           string += mo.group(1)[0:-1] + chr
@@ -142,13 +143,13 @@ class ConfigFile:
           if not self._call_if_match(Colourvalue, self._value, 1):
             # bare value
             if not self._call_if_match(Barevalue, self._value, 1):
-              self.parse_error("Setting without a value")
+              self.parse_error(_("Setting without a value"))
               continue
 
       self._call_if_match(Ignore, lambda junk: dbg("Ignoring: %s" % junk))
 
       if self._line[self._pos:] != '':
-        self.parse_error("Unexpected token")
+        self.parse_error(_("Unexpected token"))
 
     if self.errors:
       raise ParsedWithErrors(self.filename, self.errors)