diff --git a/linkcheck/command/linkchecker.py b/linkcheck/command/linkchecker.py
index f4c5ff47..139a7cf8 100644
--- a/linkcheck/command/linkchecker.py
+++ b/linkcheck/command/linkchecker.py
@@ -135,11 +135,14 @@ def linkchecker():
         files = []
         if options.configfile:
             path = configuration.normpath(options.configfile)
-            if fileutil.is_valid_config_source(path):
-                files.append(path)
+            if not fileutil.is_valid_config_source(path):
+                raise LinkCheckerError(
+                    _("Config file %s does not exist.") % options.configfile)
+            elif not fileutil.is_readable(path):
+                raise LinkCheckerError(
+                    _("Could not read config file %s.") % options.configfile)
             else:
-                log.warn(
-                    LOG_CMDLINE, _("Unreadable config file: %r"), options.configfile)
+                files.append(path)
         config.read(files=files)
     except LinkCheckerError as msg:
         # config error
diff --git a/linkcheck/command/setup_config.py b/linkcheck/command/setup_config.py
index 5d7e6a51..da6c36d1 100644
--- a/linkcheck/command/setup_config.py
+++ b/linkcheck/command/setup_config.py
@@ -203,10 +203,10 @@ def setup_config(config, options):
         config["useragent"] = options.useragent
     if options.cookiefile is not None:
         if not fileutil.is_valid_config_source(options.cookiefile):
-            log.error(
-                LOG_CMDLINE, _("Cookie file %s does not exist."), options.cookiefile)
+            print_usage(
+                _("Cookie file %s does not exist.") % options.cookiefile)
         elif not fileutil.is_readable(options.cookiefile):
-            msg = _("Could not read cookie file %s") % options.cookiefile
-            log.error(LOG_CMDLINE, msg)
+            print_usage(
+                _("Could not read cookie file %s") % options.cookiefile)
         else:
             config["cookiefile"] = options.cookiefile