diff --git a/bigchaindb/commands/bigchain.py b/bigchaindb/commands/bigchain.py
index c460ae15..912e5ed7 100644
--- a/bigchaindb/commands/bigchain.py
+++ b/bigchaindb/commands/bigchain.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import json
 import bigchaindb
 import bigchaindb.config_utils
 from bigchaindb import db
-from bigchaindb.exceptions import DatabaseAlreadyExists
+from bigchaindb.exceptions import DatabaseAlreadyExists, KeypairNotFoundException
 from bigchaindb.commands.utils import base_parser, start
 from bigchaindb.processes import Processes
 from bigchaindb import crypto
@@ -101,6 +101,10 @@ def run_start(args):
         db.init()
     except DatabaseAlreadyExists:
         pass
+    except KeypairNotFoundException:
+        print('Cannot start BigchainDB, no keypair found. Did you run `bigchaindb configure`?')
+        exit(1)
+
     processes = Processes()
     logger.info('Start bigchaindb main process')
     processes.start()
diff --git a/bigchaindb/db/utils.py b/bigchaindb/db/utils.py
index d5551833..b0a44d6a 100644
--- a/bigchaindb/db/utils.py
+++ b/bigchaindb/db/utils.py
@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@ def get_conn():
 
 
 def init():
+    # Try to access the keypair, throws an exception if it does not exist
+    b = bigchaindb.Bigchain()
+
     conn = get_conn()
     dbname = bigchaindb.config['database']['name']
 
@@ -59,7 +62,6 @@ def init():
     r.db(dbname).table('bigchain').index_wait().run(conn)
 
     logger.info(' - genesis block')
-    b = bigchaindb.Bigchain()
     b.create_genesis_block()
     logger.info('Done, have fun!')
 
diff --git a/docs/source/configuration.md b/docs/source/configuration.md
index 6a906b96..efb71cc4 100644
--- a/docs/source/configuration.md
+++ b/docs/source/configuration.md
@@ -110,25 +110,7 @@ If we try to run the node, the command will fail:
 ```
 $ bigchaindb start
 WARNING:bigchaindb.config_utils:Cannot find config file `/home/vrde/.bigchaindb`.
-INFO:bigchaindb.db.utils:Create:
-INFO:bigchaindb.db.utils: - database `bigchain`
-INFO:bigchaindb.db.utils: - tables
-INFO:bigchaindb.db.utils: - indexes
-INFO:bigchaindb.db.utils: - genesis block
-Traceback (most recent call last):
-  File "/home/vrde/.local/share/virtualenvs/bigchain/bin/bigchaindb", line 9, in <module>
-    load_entry_point('BigchainDB', 'console_scripts', 'bigchaindb')()
-  File "/home/vrde/ascribe/repos/bigchaindb/bigchaindb/commands/bigchain.py", line 137, in main
-    start(parser, globals())
-  File "/home/vrde/ascribe/repos/bigchaindb/bigchaindb/commands/utils.py", line 41, in start
-    func(args)
-  File "/home/vrde/ascribe/repos/bigchaindb/bigchaindb/commands/bigchain.py", line 101, in run_start
-    db.init()
-  File "/home/vrde/ascribe/repos/bigchaindb/bigchaindb/db/utils.py", line 62, in init
-    b = bigchaindb.Bigchain()
-  File "/home/vrde/ascribe/repos/bigchaindb/bigchaindb/core.py", line 58, in __init__
-    raise exceptions.KeypairNotFoundException()
-bigchaindb.exceptions.KeypairNotFoundException
+Cannot start BigchainDB, no keypair found. Did you run `bigchaindb configure`?
 ```
 
 This is failing as expected: a BigchainDB node needs at least a key pair to work.