diff --git a/jrnl/cli.py b/jrnl/cli.py
index 72eff470..6d88685a 100644
--- a/jrnl/cli.py
+++ b/jrnl/cli.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ from . import Journal
 from . import util
 from . import install
 from . import plugins
-from .util import ERROR_COLOR, RESET_COLOR
+from .util import ERROR_COLOR, RESET_COLOR, UserAbort
 import jrnl
 import argparse
 import sys
@@ -143,7 +143,12 @@ def run(manual_args=None):
         print(util.py2encode(version_str))
         sys.exit(0)
 
-    config = install.load_or_install_jrnl()
+    try:
+        config = install.load_or_install_jrnl()
+    except UserAbort as err:
+        util.prompt("\n{}".format(err))
+        sys.exit(1)
+
     if args.ls:
         util.prnt(list_journals(config))
         sys.exit(0)
diff --git a/jrnl/install.py b/jrnl/install.py
index 417497aa..77247508 100644
--- a/jrnl/install.py
+++ b/jrnl/install.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ from . import upgrade
 from . import __version__
 from .Journal import PlainJournal
 from .EncryptedJournal import EncryptedJournal
+from .util import UserAbort
 import yaml
 import logging
 import sys
@@ -101,7 +102,11 @@ def load_or_install_jrnl():
         return config
     else:
         log.debug('Configuration file not found, installing jrnl...')
-        return install()
+        try:
+            config = install()
+        except KeyboardInterrupt:
+            raise UserAbort("Installation aborted")
+        return config
 
 
 def install():
diff --git a/jrnl/upgrade.py b/jrnl/upgrade.py
index 4e315f82..f2b80af3 100644
--- a/jrnl/upgrade.py
+++ b/jrnl/upgrade.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ from . import __version__
 from . import Journal
 from . import util
 from .EncryptedJournal import EncryptedJournal
-import sys
+from .util import UserAbort
 import os
 import codecs
 
@@ -77,10 +77,12 @@ older versions of jrnl anymore.
         for journal, path in other_journals.items():
             util.prompt("    {:{pad}} -> {}".format(journal, path, pad=longest_journal_name))
 
-    cont = util.yesno("\nContinue upgrading jrnl?", default=False)
-    if not cont:
-        util.prompt("jrnl NOT upgraded, exiting.")
-        sys.exit(1)
+    try:
+        cont = util.yesno("\nContinue upgrading jrnl?", default=False)
+        if not cont:
+            raise KeyboardInterrupt
+    except KeyboardInterrupt:
+        raise UserAbort("jrnl NOT upgraded, exiting.")
 
     for journal_name, path in encrypted_journals.items():
         util.prompt("\nUpgrading encrypted '{}' journal stored in {}...".format(journal_name, path))
diff --git a/jrnl/util.py b/jrnl/util.py
index 7f6688d8..bc36ba9b 100644
--- a/jrnl/util.py
+++ b/jrnl/util.py
@@ -47,6 +47,10 @@ SENTENCE_SPLITTER = re.compile(r"""
 )""", re.UNICODE | re.VERBOSE)
 
 
+class UserAbort(Exception):
+    pass
+
+
 def getpass(prompt="Password: "):
     if not TEST:
         return gp.getpass(bytes(prompt))