diff --git a/authority/config/config.go b/authority/config/config.go
index fb4d52f9..556f5407 100644
--- a/authority/config/config.go
+++ b/authority/config/config.go
@@ -213,9 +213,6 @@ func (c *AuthConfig) Validate(audiences provisioner.Audiences) error {
 func LoadConfiguration(filename string) (*Config, error) {
 	f, err := os.Open(filename)
 	if err != nil {
-		fmt.Println("step-ca can't find or open the configuration file for your CA.")
-		fmt.Println("You may need to create a CA first by running `step ca init`.")
-		fmt.Println("Documentation: https://u.step.sm/docs/ca\n")
 		return nil, errors.Wrapf(err, "error opening %s", filename)
 	}
 	defer f.Close()
diff --git a/commands/app.go b/commands/app.go
index 31d62f87..3c07120c 100644
--- a/commands/app.go
+++ b/commands/app.go
@@ -141,6 +141,9 @@ func appAction(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 
 	cfg, err := config.LoadConfiguration(configFile)
 	if err != nil && token == "" {
+		fmt.Println("step-ca can't find or open the configuration file for your CA.")
+		fmt.Println("You may need to create a CA first by running `step ca init`.")
+		fmt.Println("Documentation: https://u.step.sm/docs/ca\n")
 		fatal(err)
 	}