diff --git a/zmon_cli/main.py b/zmon_cli/main.py
index 6d66fda..57e684d 100644
--- a/zmon_cli/main.py
+++ b/zmon_cli/main.py
@@ -139,9 +139,17 @@ def get_config_data():
     if os.path.exists(fn):
         with open(fn) as fd:
             data = yaml.safe_load(fd)
+    else:
+        raise Exception("Config file not found: ~/.zmon-cli.yaml")
+
+    return validate_config(data)
+
 
+def validate_config(data):
     if "user" not in data or "password" not in data:
-        raise Exception("Config file not found/properly configured: ~/.zmon-cli.yaml with user: and password:")
+        raise Exception("Config file not properly configured: keys 'user' and 'password' are missing")
+    if "url" not in data:
+        raise Exception("Config file not properly configured: key 'url' is missing")
 
     return data