diff --git a/settings.py b/settings.py
index 504fe8c..4f04601 100644
--- a/settings.py
+++ b/settings.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 import configparser
 import json
 import os
+import sys
 
 config = configparser.ConfigParser()
 config['pomodoro'] = {}
@@ -47,4 +48,7 @@ def harvest_set_projects_clients_map(projects_clients_map = {}):
     write()
 
 def harvest_get_projects_clients_map():
-    return json.loads(harvest['projects_clients'])
+    if 'projects_clients' in harvest:
+        return json.loads(harvest['projects_clients'])
+    else:
+        sys.exit("No project clients available; run fetch_clients_projects.py")