diff --git a/src/config.ts b/src/config.ts
index a05e3c0..409dc76 100644
--- a/src/config.ts
+++ b/src/config.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,6 @@ export default {
   http_proxy: process.env.RIMGU_HTTP_PROXY || null,
   https_proxy: process.env.RIMGU_HTTPS_PROXY || null,
   imgur_client_id: process.env.RIMGU_IMGUR_CLIENT_ID || null,
-  use_api: process.env.RIMGU_USE_API !== 'false',
+  use_api: process.env.RIMGU_USE_API && process.env.RIMGU_USE_API !== 'false',
   page_title: process.env.RIMGU_PAGE_TITLE || 'rimgu',
 };
diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index 26ce76a..b85e9d4 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -80,4 +80,11 @@ process.on('unhandledRejection', (err) => {
   process.exit(1);
 });
 
+if (!CONFIG.use_api) {
+  console.log('Running without imgur client ID; certain views and functionality missing.');
+} else if (!CONFIG.imgur_client_id) {
+  console.error('imgur_client_id missing. Configure it via RIMGU_IMGUR_CLIENT_ID  or set RIMGU_USE_API=false');
+  process.exit(1);
+}
+
 init();