diff --git a/client.go b/client.go
index 1704ad6..7a24c94 100644
--- a/client.go
+++ b/client.go
@@ -47,8 +47,7 @@ func (c *client) GetSizeOnce() {
 	cmd.Stdin = os.Stdin
 	out, err := cmd.Output()
 	if err != nil {
-		fmt.Println("Fatal error: Unable to retrieve terminal size")
-		os.Exit(5)
+		cui.Exit(5, "Fatal error: Unable to retrieve terminal size")
 	}
 	var h, w int
 	_, _ = fmt.Sscan(string(out), &h, &w)
@@ -66,8 +65,7 @@ func (c *client) GetSize() {
 		cmd.Stdin = os.Stdin
 		out, err := cmd.Output()
 		if err != nil {
-			fmt.Println("Fatal error: Unable to retrieve terminal size")
-			os.Exit(5)
+			cui.Exit(5, "Fatal error: Unable to retrieve terminal size")
 		}
 		var h, w int
 		_, _ = fmt.Sscan(string(out), &h, &w)
@@ -157,7 +155,7 @@ func (c *client) TakeControlInput() {
 		c.Scroll(-1)
 	case 'q', 'Q':
 		// quit bombadillo
-		cui.Exit()
+		cui.Exit(0, "")
 	case 'g':
 		// scroll to top
 		c.ClearMessage()
@@ -278,7 +276,7 @@ func (c *client) simpleCommand(action string) {
 	action = strings.ToUpper(action)
 	switch action {
 	case "Q", "QUIT":
-		cui.Exit()
+		cui.Exit(0, "")
 	case "H", "HOME":
 		if c.Options["homeurl"] != "unset" {
 			go c.Visit(c.Options["homeurl"])
diff --git a/cui/cui.go b/cui/cui.go
index 85b14cc..b6ca90b 100644
--- a/cui/cui.go
+++ b/cui/cui.go
@@ -44,9 +44,12 @@ func moveCursorToward(dir string, amount int) {
 }
 
 // Exit performs cleanup operations before exiting the application
-func Exit() {
+func Exit(exitCode int, msg string) {
 	CleanupTerm()
-	os.Exit(0)
+	if msg != "" {
+		fmt.Print(msg, "\n")
+	}
+	os.Exit(exitCode)
 }
 
 // InitTerm sets the terminal modes appropriate for Bombadillo
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index bc986c0..3b6e8ba 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -93,10 +93,11 @@ func lowerCaseOpt(opt, val string) string {
 	}
 }
 
-func loadConfig() error {
+func loadConfig() {
 	err := os.MkdirAll(bombadillo.Options["configlocation"], 0755)
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("Error creating configlocation: %s", err.Error())
+		exitMsg := fmt.Sprintf("Error creating 'configlocation' directory: %s", err.Error())
+		cui.Exit(3, exitMsg)
 	}
 
 	fp := filepath.Join(bombadillo.Options["configlocation"], ".bombadillo.ini")
@@ -104,7 +105,8 @@ func loadConfig() error {
 	if err != nil {
 		err = saveConfig()
 		if err != nil {
-			return err
+			exitMsg := fmt.Sprintf("Error writing config file during bootup: %s", err.Error())
+			cui.Exit(4, exitMsg)
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -138,17 +140,14 @@ func loadConfig() error {
 	for _, v := range settings.Certs {
 		bombadillo.Certs.Add(v.Key, v.Value)
 	}
-
-	return nil
 }
 
-func initClient() error {
+func initClient() {
 	bombadillo = MakeClient("  ((( Bombadillo )))  ")
-	err := loadConfig()
+	loadConfig()
 	if bombadillo.Options["tlscertificate"] != "" && bombadillo.Options["tlskey"] != "" {
 		bombadillo.Certs.LoadCertificate(bombadillo.Options["tlscertificate"], bombadillo.Options["tlskey"])
 	}
-	return err
 }
 
 // In the event of specific signals, ensure the display is shown correctly.
@@ -165,7 +164,7 @@ func handleSignals(c <-chan os.Signal) {
 			cui.InitTerm()
 			bombadillo.Draw()
 		case syscall.SIGINT:
-			cui.Exit()
+			cui.Exit(130, "")
 		}
 	}
 }
@@ -197,12 +196,8 @@ func main() {
 	args := flag.Args()
 
 	cui.InitTerm()
-	defer cui.Exit()
-	err := initClient()
-	if err != nil {
-		// if we can't initialize we should bail out
-		panic(err)
-	}
+	defer cui.Exit(0, "")
+	initClient()
 
 	// watch for signals, send them to be handled
 	c := make(chan os.Signal, 1)