diff --git a/lib/core/config.js b/lib/core/config.js
index 13372037d..6eafa54e7 100644
--- a/lib/core/config.js
+++ b/lib/core/config.js
@@ -187,6 +187,12 @@ Config.prototype.loadBlockchainConfigFile = function() {
   if (!configFilePath) {
     this.blockchainConfig.default = true;
   }
+  if(!this.blockchainConfig.account && !this.blockchainConfig.isDev) {
+    this.logger.warn(
+      __('Account settings are needed for this chain.' +
+         ' Please put a valid address and possibly a password in your blockchain config or use a dev chain.')
+    );
+  }
 };
 
 Config.prototype.loadContractsConfigFile = function() {