diff --git a/src/config/error.rs b/src/config/error.rs
index a491638..f21502a 100644
--- a/src/config/error.rs
+++ b/src/config/error.rs
@@ -12,7 +12,9 @@ pub enum Error {
     NotFound(PathBuf),
     InvalidUtf8,
     TypeError{expected:LispType, got: LispType},
-    BadLength,
+    UnexpectedEmpty,
+    UnknownDefinition(String),
+    
     Unknown,
 }
 
@@ -52,7 +54,9 @@ impl std::fmt::Display for Error
             Self::NotFound(path) => write!(f, "File not found: {:?}", path),
 	    Self::InvalidUtf8 => write!(f, "Invalid UTF8 decoded string or some such"),
             Self::TypeError{expected, got} => write!(f, "Type mismatch: Expected {}, got {}", expected, got),
-	    Self::BadLength => write!(f, "expected at least 1 element"),
+	    Self::UnexpectedEmpty => write!(f, "expected a non-empty list"),
+	    Self::UnknownDefinition(def) => write!(f, "unknown definition `{}'", def),
+	    
 	    _ => write!(f, "unknown error")
 	}
     }
diff --git a/src/config/format.rs b/src/config/format.rs
index ee8ab39..060a2f8 100644
--- a/src/config/format.rs
+++ b/src/config/format.rs
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ impl LispExt for Vec<Sexp>
 	} else if self.len() > 0{
 	    Ok((&self[0], &[]))
 	} else {
-	    Err(Error::BadLength)
+	    Err(Error::UnexpectedEmpty)
 	}
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/config/parse.rs b/src/config/parse.rs
index fac0c9c..e3126f5 100644
--- a/src/config/parse.rs
+++ b/src/config/parse.rs
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ pub async fn global(to: &mut Config, path: impl AsRef<Path>) -> Result<(), error
                 "debug" => set_debug(to ,cdr),
                 "allow" => mwee(to, cdr),
                 "deny" => mwee(to, cdr),
-                _ => return Err(Error::Unknown),
+                _ => return Err(Error::UnknownDefinition(car.to_owned())),
             }?;
         }
 	Ok(())