diff --git a/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp b/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
index ad145fdf9..cd1764a53 100644
--- a/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
@@ -132,7 +132,10 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     // ... then bitcoin.conf:
     if (!boost::filesystem::is_directory(GetDataDir(false)))
     {
-        fprintf(stderr, "Error: Specified directory does not exist\n");
+        // This message can not be translated, as translation is not initialized yet
+        // (which not yet possible because lang=XX can be overridden in bitcoin.conf in the data directory)
+        QMessageBox::critical(0, "Bitcoin",
+                              QString("Error: Specified data directory \"%1\" does not exist.").arg(QString::fromStdString(mapArgs["-datadir"])));
         return 1;
     }
     ReadConfigFile(mapArgs, mapMultiArgs);