diff --git a/lib/db/index.js b/lib/db/index.js
index 06f8cecf..5a77c072 100644
--- a/lib/db/index.js
+++ b/lib/db/index.js
@@ -17,6 +17,10 @@ function connect() {
       })
       return setup(conn)
     })
+    .catch(function(err) {
+      log.fatal('Unable to connect to the database: "%s"', err.message)
+      process.exit(1)
+    })
 }
 
 var db = module.exports = Object.create(null)