diff --git a/s3h.sh b/s3h.sh
index 0912edb..6e8344f 100755
--- a/s3h.sh
+++ b/s3h.sh
@@ -8,6 +8,13 @@ if [[ $# -eq 1 && -d "$1" ]]; then
 	START_DIR="$1"
 fi
 
+if [[ ! -d "$START_DIR" ]]; then
+	echo "start directory '$START_DIR' does not exist" >&2
+	echo -e "either create or set 'start directory' parameter\n" >&2
+	echo "Usage: $0 [start directory]" >&2
+	exit 2
+fi
+
 # select config file
 configFile=''
 while [[ -z "$configFile" ]]; do
@@ -34,6 +41,14 @@ while [[ -z "$configFile" ]]; do
 		para+=("$d" "$d")
 	done
 
+	if [[ ${#para[@]} -eq 0 ]]; then
+		echo "no file or directory found in '$dir'" >&2
+		echo "either create a connection file like" >&2
+		echo -e "\ttouch '$dir/root@example.org'" >&2
+		echo "or create a group by adding a directory" >&2
+		exit 3
+	fi
+
 	# run dialog
 	ret=$("$DIALOG" --no-tags --stdout --menu "select connection" 0 0 0 ${para[@]} 2>&1)
 	if [[ $? -ne 0 ]]; then