diff --git a/gui/qt/main_window.py b/gui/qt/main_window.py
index f41848dc..0887d89b 100644
--- a/gui/qt/main_window.py
+++ b/gui/qt/main_window.py
@@ -2144,7 +2144,12 @@ class ElectrumWindow(QMainWindow):
 
 
     def read_tx_from_qrcode(self):
-        data = run_hook('scan_qr_hook')
+        from electrum import qrscanner
+        try:
+            data = qrscanner.scan_qr(self.config)
+        except BaseException, e:
+            QMessageBox.warning(self, _('Error'), _(e), _('OK'))
+            return
         if not data:
             return
         # transactions are binary, but qrcode seems to return utf8...
diff --git a/lib/qrscanner.py b/lib/qrscanner.py
index a45e1520..0b712e60 100644
--- a/lib/qrscanner.py
+++ b/lib/qrscanner.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ except ImportError:
 
 def scan_qr(config):
     if not zbar:
-        return
+        raise BaseException("The zbar package is not available.\nOn Linux, try 'sudo apt-get install python-zbar'")
     device = config.get("video_device", "default")
     if device == 'default':
         device = ''