diff --git a/lib/cube/server.js b/lib/cube/server.js
index eabbf400..2189002c 100644
--- a/lib/cube/server.js
+++ b/lib/cube/server.js
@@ -143,7 +143,11 @@ module.exports = function(options) {
     // Connect to mongodb.
     util.log("starting mongodb client");
     database.open(options, function (error, db) {
-      if (error) throw error;
+      if (error) {
+        util.log("mongo exception: " + error);
+        util.log(error.stack);
+        process.exit(1)
+      }
       server.register(db, endpoints);
       meta = require("./event").putter(db);
       util.log("starting http server on port " + options["http-port"]);