diff --git a/src/scdaq.cc b/src/scdaq.cc
index b1753cd27463907c4cb93afa7b667adaa01ab85e..55d4335c9543590fbe1e58408ac282f0d3b9ad1f 100644
--- a/src/scdaq.cc
+++ b/src/scdaq.cc
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
     //    utility::report_elapsed_time((tbb::tick_count::now() -
     //    mainStartTime).seconds());
     return retval;
-  } catch (std::exception &e) {
+  } catch (std::invalid_argument &e) {
     LOG(FATAL) << "Configuration invalid! Error text is \"" << e.what() << "\" Bailing out.";
     return EX_CONFIG;
   } catch (std::exception &e) {