diff --git a/conf/bi.config b/conf/bi.config
index 0ad15d4..b96c8e9 100644
--- a/conf/bi.config
+++ b/conf/bi.config
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ includeConfig params.globalConfig
 def determine_global_config() {
     if( System.getenv('NXF_GLOBAL_CONFIG') == null)
     {
+        System.err.println("Environment variable NXF_GLOBAL_CONFIG is missing. Set it to point to global.config file")
         throw new Exception("Environment variable NXF_GLOBAL_CONFIG is missing. Set it to point to global.config file")
     }
     return System.getenv('NXF_GLOBAL_CONFIG')