diff --git a/client/app_config.cpp b/client/app_config.cpp
index 83b3df2787..b9440a7bdf 100644
--- a/client/app_config.cpp
+++ b/client/app_config.cpp
@@ -136,7 +136,12 @@ int APP_VERSION_CONFIG::parse(XML_PARSER& xp, PROJECT* p) {
 int APP_CONFIGS::parse(XML_PARSER& xp, PROJECT* p) {
     int n;
     clear();
-    if (!xp.parse_start("app_config")) return ERR_XML_PARSE;
+    if (!xp.parse_start("app_config")) {
+        msg_printf_notice(p, false, NULL,
+            "Missing <app_config> in app_config.xml"
+        );
+        return ERR_XML_PARSE;
+    }
     while (!xp.get_tag()) {
         if (!xp.is_tag) {
             msg_printf_notice(p, false, NULL,