diff --git a/rust2rpm/conf.py b/rust2rpm/conf.py
index 50c782c..0f22493 100644
--- a/rust2rpm/conf.py
+++ b/rust2rpm/conf.py
@@ -530,6 +530,11 @@ def load_config(features: set[str], target: str) -> TomlConf:
     except FileNotFoundError as exc:
         tomlconf = None
 
+    except tomllib.TOMLDecodeError as exc:
+        log.error("Cannot read rust2rpm.toml file (TOML syntax error):")
+        log.error(str(exc))
+        sys.exit(1)
+
     except jsonschema.ValidationError as exc:
         if not exc.path:
             log.error("Invalid rust2rpm.toml file (unknown setting or table):")