diff --git a/jrnl/jrnl.py b/jrnl/jrnl.py
index 7dede648..4e824f85 100644
--- a/jrnl/jrnl.py
+++ b/jrnl/jrnl.py
@@ -200,11 +200,7 @@ def _get_editor_template(config, **kwargs):
         logging.debug("Write mode: template loaded: %s", template)
     except OSError:
         logging.error("Write mode: template not loaded")
-        print(
-            f"[Could not read template at '{config['template']}']",
-            file=sys.stderr,
-        )
-        sys.exit(1)
+        raise JrnlException(Message(MsgText.CantReadTemplate, MsgType.ERROR, { "template": config["template"] }))
 
     return template
 
diff --git a/jrnl/messages.py b/jrnl/messages.py
index 056e1d1f..340e7b69 100644
--- a/jrnl/messages.py
+++ b/jrnl/messages.py
@@ -61,6 +61,12 @@ class MsgText(Enum):
 
     KeyboardInterruptMsg = "Aborted by user"
 
+    CantReadTemplate = """
+        Unreadable template
+        Could not read template file at:
+        {template}
+        """
+
     # --- Journal status ---#
     JournalNotSaved = "Entry NOT saved to journal"