diff --git a/tailbone/app.py b/tailbone/app.py
index 7ac1520b..5bb8a0ce 100644
--- a/tailbone/app.py
+++ b/tailbone/app.py
@@ -59,12 +59,16 @@ def make_rattail_config(settings):
     rattail_config = settings.get('rattail_config')
     if not rattail_config:
 
-        # Initialize rattail config and embed it in the settings dict, to make it
-        # available to web requests later.
-        path = settings.get('edbob.config')
+        # initialize rattail config and embed in settings dict, to make
+        # available for web requests later
+        path = settings.get('rattail.config')
         if not path or not os.path.exists(path):
-            raise ConfigurationError("Please set 'edbob.config' in [app:main] section of config "
-                                     "to the path of your config file.  Lame, but necessary.")
+            path = settings.get('edbob.config')
+            if not path or not os.path.exists(path):
+                raise ConfigurationError("Please set 'rattail.config' in [app:main] section of config "
+                                         "to the path of your config file.  Lame, but necessary.")
+            log.warning("using fallback 'edbob.config' setting, but would prefer the "
+                        "'rattail.config' setting under [app:main] if possible...")
         rattail_config = make_config(path)
         settings['rattail_config'] = rattail_config
     rattail_config.configure_logging()