diff --git a/lib/config.js b/lib/config.js
index 3fb937d..ec7aa92 100644
--- a/lib/config.js
+++ b/lib/config.js
@@ -25,7 +25,11 @@ export function getMergedConfig(dir, home) {
 
 export function getConfig(configType, dir) {
   const configPath = getConfigPath(configType, dir);
-  return readJson(configPath);
+  try {
+    return readJson(configPath);
+  } catch (cause) {
+    throw new Error('Unable to parse config file ' + configPath, { cause });
+  }
 };
 
 export function getConfigPath(configType, dir) {