diff --git a/code/game/world.dm b/code/game/world.dm
index eeca8b321ba..48063b2395d 100644
--- a/code/game/world.dm
+++ b/code/game/world.dm
@@ -24,14 +24,16 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_INIT(map_transition_config, MAP_TRANSITION_CONFIG)
 
 	TgsNew(new /datum/tgs_event_handler/impl, TGS_SECURITY_TRUSTED) // creates a new TGS object
 	log_world("World loaded at [time_stamp()]")
-	log_world("[GLOB.vars.len - GLOB.gvars_datum_in_built_vars.len] global variables")
+	log_world("[length(GLOB.vars) - length(GLOB.gvars_datum_in_built_vars)] global variables")
 	GLOB.revision_info.log_info()
-	load_admins(run_async=FALSE) // This better happen early on.
+	load_admins(run_async = FALSE) // This better happen early on.
 
 	#ifdef UNIT_TESTS
 	log_world("Unit Tests Are Enabled!")
 	#endif
 
+	if(!fexists("config/config.txt") || !fexists("config/game_options.txt"))
+		stack_trace("The game config files have not been properly set! Please copy ALL files from '/config/example' into the parent folder, '/config'.")
 
 	if(byond_version < MIN_COMPILER_VERSION || byond_build < MIN_COMPILER_BUILD)
 		log_world("Your server's byond version does not meet the recommended requirements for this code. Please update BYOND")
@@ -44,7 +46,7 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_INIT(map_transition_config, MAP_TRANSITION_CONFIG)
 
 	startup_procs() // Call procs that need to occur on startup (Generate lists, load MOTD, etc)
 
-	src.update_status()
+	update_status()
 
 	GLOB.space_manager.initialize() //Before the MC starts up
 
@@ -57,7 +59,6 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_INIT(map_transition_config, MAP_TRANSITION_CONFIG)
 	HandleTestRun()
 	#endif
 
-	return
 
 // This is basically a replacement for hook/startup. Please dont shove random bullshit here
 // If it doesnt need to happen IMMEDIATELY on world load, make a subsystem for it
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/login.dm b/code/modules/mob/login.dm
index 639f3da7aaf..81150ac3be5 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/login.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/login.dm
@@ -68,5 +68,9 @@
 		for(var/datum/alternate_appearance/AA in viewing_alternate_appearances)
 			AA.display_to(list(src))
 
+	if(!fexists("config/config.txt") || !fexists("config/game_options.txt"))
+		to_chat(src, "<span class='biggerdanger'>The game config files have not been properly set!\n Please copy ALL files from '/config/example' into the parent folder, '/config'.</span>")
+		log_world("The game config files have not been properly set! Please copy ALL files from /config/example into the parent folder, /config.")
+
 	update_client_colour(0)
 	update_morgue()