diff --git a/production.py b/production.py
index 77f892b..fc3d64d 100644
--- a/production.py
+++ b/production.py
@@ -265,8 +265,10 @@ def main() -> None:
         try:
             with open(config_path, 'r') as f:
                 config = json.load(f)
-        except (json.JSONDecodeError, IOError):
-            pass
+        except json.JSONDecodeError as e:
+            sys.exit(f"Error: Failed to parse '{config_path}': {e}\nPlease check for syntax errors (like trailing commas).")
+        except IOError as e:
+            print(f"Warning: Could not read '{config_path}': {e}")
 
     server_cfg = config.get('server', {})
     default_host = server_cfg.get('host', '0.0.0.0')