diff --git a/lbry/blockchain/lbrycrd.py b/lbry/blockchain/lbrycrd.py
index a43d5f600..31fc85e14 100644
--- a/lbry/blockchain/lbrycrd.py
+++ b/lbry/blockchain/lbrycrd.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ import zmq.asyncio
 
 from lbry.conf import Config
 from lbry.event import EventController
-from lbry.error import LbrycrdEventSubscriptionError, LbrycrdUnauthorizedError
+from lbry.error import LbrycrdEventSubscriptionError, LbrycrdUnauthorizedError, LbrycrdMisconfigurationError
 
 from .database import BlockchainDB
 from .ledger import Ledger, RegTestLedger
@@ -209,6 +209,8 @@ class Lbrycrd:
 
     async def ensure_subscribable(self):
         zmq_notifications = await self.get_zmq_notifications()
+        if not zmq_notifications:
+            raise LbrycrdMisconfigurationError("zmqpubhashblock")
         subs = {e['type']: e['address'] for e in zmq_notifications}
         if ZMQ_BLOCK_EVENT not in subs:
             raise LbrycrdEventSubscriptionError(ZMQ_BLOCK_EVENT)
diff --git a/lbry/blockchain/sync/synchronizer.py b/lbry/blockchain/sync/synchronizer.py
index 95a68aea2..5bdf3931e 100644
--- a/lbry/blockchain/sync/synchronizer.py
+++ b/lbry/blockchain/sync/synchronizer.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ from lbry.service.base import Sync, BlockEvent
 from lbry.blockchain.lbrycrd import Lbrycrd
 
 from . import blocks as block_phase, claims as claim_phase, supports as support_phase
-
+from ...error import LbrycrdMisconfigurationError
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -49,6 +49,9 @@ class BlockchainSync(Sync):
                 return await self.chain.ensure_subscribable()
             except asyncio.CancelledError:
                 raise
+            except LbrycrdMisconfigurationError as e:
+                log.warning(str(e))
+                raise
             except Exception as e:
                 log.warning("Blockchain not ready, waiting for it: %s", str(e))
                 await asyncio.sleep(1)
diff --git a/lbry/error/__init__.py b/lbry/error/__init__.py
index 57086d852..cf0cee4c5 100644
--- a/lbry/error/__init__.py
+++ b/lbry/error/__init__.py
@@ -417,3 +417,10 @@ class LbrycrdEventSubscriptionError(LbrycrdError):
     def __init__(self, event):
         self.event = event
         super().__init__(f"Lbrycrd is not publishing '{event}' events.")
+
+
+class LbrycrdMisconfigurationError(LbrycrdError):
+    def __init__(self, config_key):
+        self.config_key = config_key
+        super().__init__(f"Lbrycrd is misconfigured. Please double check if"
+                         f" {config_key} is properly set on lbrycrd.conf")
diff --git a/tests/integration/blockchain/test_blockchain.py b/tests/integration/blockchain/test_blockchain.py
index 2e94a0990..9e9acfdc9 100644
--- a/tests/integration/blockchain/test_blockchain.py
+++ b/tests/integration/blockchain/test_blockchain.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ from lbry import Config, Database, RegTestLedger, Transaction, Output, Input
 from lbry.crypto.base58 import Base58
 from lbry.schema.claim import Stream, Channel
 from lbry.schema.support import Support
-from lbry.error import LbrycrdEventSubscriptionError, LbrycrdUnauthorizedError
+from lbry.error import LbrycrdEventSubscriptionError, LbrycrdUnauthorizedError, LbrycrdMisconfigurationError
 from lbry.blockchain.lbrycrd import Lbrycrd
 from lbry.blockchain.sync import BlockchainSync
 from lbry.blockchain.dewies import dewies_to_lbc, lbc_to_dewies
@@ -613,14 +613,15 @@ class TestMultiBlockFileSyncing(BasicBlockchainTestCase):
 
 
 class TestGeneralBlockchainSync(SyncingBlockchainTestCase):
-    async def test_sync_waits_for_lbrycrd_to_start(self):
+    async def test_sync_exits_if_zmq_is_misconfigured(self):
         await self.sync.stop()
         await self.chain.stop()
         sync_start = asyncio.create_task(self.sync.start())
         await asyncio.sleep(0)
+        self.chain.ledger.conf.set(lbrycrd_zmq_blocks='')
         await self.chain.start()
-        await sync_start
-        self.assertTrue(sync_start.done())  # test goal is to get here without exceptions
+        with self.assertRaises(LbrycrdMisconfigurationError):
+            await asyncio.wait_for(sync_start, timeout=10)
 
     async def test_sync_advances(self):
         blocks = []