diff --git a/gnucash/gnucash-commands.cpp b/gnucash/gnucash-commands.cpp
index d0849092726..83c4de4457f 100644
--- a/gnucash/gnucash-commands.cpp
+++ b/gnucash/gnucash-commands.cpp
@@ -586,10 +586,10 @@ python_cleanup (PyConfig& config, PyStatus& status)
     gnc_clear_current_session ();
 
     PyConfig_Clear(&config);
-    if (PyStatus_IsExit(status))
-        gnc_shutdown_cli (status.exitcode);
-
-    gnc_shutdown_cli (0);
+    if (status.err_msg && *status.err_msg)
+        std::cerr << bl::format (_("Python Config failed with error {1}")) % status.err_msg
+                  << std::endl;
+    gnc_shutdown_cli (status.exitcode);
 }
 
 static void