diff --git a/bot_libs/syms.py b/bot_libs/syms.py
index 3319e44..e46a3a1 100644
--- a/bot_libs/syms.py
+++ b/bot_libs/syms.py
@@ -1,9 +1,26 @@
 import os as _os
 
+_MISSING_LOCAL_SETTINGS= """
+=============== ERROR ===============
+
+  Missing local configurations:
+  create: local_settings.py
+  with these settings:
+
+  TOKEN= '<this_is_your_token_id>' # created using https://t.me/BotFather
+  BOT_PATH= '/path/of/your/repo/directory' # used for upstart command
+  LOG_PATH= '/path/where/you/place/logs' # used to save daily logs
+  BOT_EXEC_CMD= 'python /path/of/your/repo/directory/bot.py' # the command you use to launch the bot instance
+  SUPER_USERS= [<chat_id>] # this is the superuser, allowed to use special commands (upstart and logs)
+
+=====================================
+"""
+
+
 try:
   from local_settings import TOKEN as _token
   TOKEN= _token
-except: TOKEN= 'XXX'
+except: print(_MISSING_LOCAL_SETTINGS)
 try:
   from local_settings import BOT_PATH as _bot_path
   BOT_PATH= _os.path.expanduser(_bot_path)
@@ -11,7 +28,7 @@ except: BOT_PATH= ''
 try:
   from local_settings import LOG_PATH as _log_path
   LOG_PATH= _os.path.expanduser(_log_path)
-except: LOG_PATH= ''
+except: LOG_PATH= '/tmp'
 try:
   from local_settings import BOT_EXEC_CMD as _bot_exec_cmd
   BOT_EXEC_CMD= _bot_exec_cmd