diff --git a/lib/index.js b/lib/index.js
index 1062eb698..74c7150ff 100644
--- a/lib/index.js
+++ b/lib/index.js
@@ -55,7 +55,6 @@ var Embark = {
       },
       self.buildDeployGenerate.bind(self)
     ], function(err, result) {
-      Embark.monitor.setStatus("Ready");
       self.logger.trace("finished".underline);
     });
   },
@@ -108,7 +107,7 @@ var Embark = {
         callback();
       }
     ], function(err, result) {
-      Embark.monitor.setStatus("Ready");
+      Embark.monitor.setStatus("Ready".green);
       self.logger.trace("finished".underline);
     });
   },
@@ -144,8 +143,12 @@ var Embark = {
           contractsConfig: self.config.contractsConfig,
           logger: Embark.logger
         });
-        contractsManager.build();
-        callback(null, contractsManager);
+        try {
+          contractsManager.build();
+          callback(null, contractsManager);
+        } catch(err) {
+          callback(new Error(err.message));
+        }
       },
       function deployContracts(contractsManager, callback) {
 
@@ -179,7 +182,11 @@ var Embark = {
 
       }
     ], function(err, result) {
-      done(result);
+      if (err) {
+        done(err, null);
+      } else {
+        done(null, result);
+      }
     });
   },
 
@@ -204,11 +211,15 @@ var Embark = {
   buildDeployGenerate: function(done) {
     var self = this;
 
+    Embark.monitor.setStatus("Deploying...".magenta.underline);
     async.waterfall([
       function deployAndBuildContractsManager(callback) {
-        Embark.monitor.setStatus("Deploying Contracts");
-        Embark.buildAndDeploy(function(contractsManager) {
-          callback(null, contractsManager);
+        Embark.buildAndDeploy(function(err, contractsManager) {
+          if (err) {
+            callback(err);
+          } else {
+            callback(null, contractsManager);
+          }
         });
       },
       function generateConsoleABI(contractsManager, callback) {
@@ -233,6 +244,13 @@ var Embark = {
         callback();
       }
     ], function(err, result) {
+      if (err) {
+        self.logger.error("error deploying");
+        self.logger.error(err.message);
+        Embark.monitor.setStatus("Deployment Error".red);
+      } else {
+        Embark.monitor.setStatus("Ready".green);
+      }
       done(result);
     });
   },