diff --git a/IPython/core/application.py b/IPython/core/application.py
index 11f1bd7..0d31cff 100644
--- a/IPython/core/application.py
+++ b/IPython/core/application.py
@@ -144,6 +144,7 @@ class BaseIPythonApplication(Application):
     # The class to use as the crash handler.
     crash_handler_class = Type(crashhandler.CrashHandler)
 
+    @catch_config_error
     def __init__(self, **kwargs):
         super(BaseIPythonApplication, self).__init__(**kwargs)
         # ensure current working directory exists
diff --git a/IPython/parallel/scripts/ipcluster b/IPython/parallel/scripts/ipcluster
index 629d390..7c8cfa2 100755
--- a/IPython/parallel/scripts/ipcluster
+++ b/IPython/parallel/scripts/ipcluster
@@ -11,15 +11,6 @@
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Imports
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-import sys
-import traceback
-
 from IPython.parallel.apps.ipclusterapp import launch_new_instance
 
-try:
-    launch_new_instance()
-except:
-    exc_type, exc_value, exc_traceback = sys.exc_info()
-    traceback.print_exception(exc_type, exc_value, exc_traceback,
-                              file=sys.stderr)
-    sys.exit(1)
+launch_new_instance()
diff --git a/IPython/parallel/scripts/ipcontroller b/IPython/parallel/scripts/ipcontroller
index 60bab10..51346a7 100755
--- a/IPython/parallel/scripts/ipcontroller
+++ b/IPython/parallel/scripts/ipcontroller
@@ -11,15 +11,6 @@
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Imports
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-import sys
-import traceback
-
 from IPython.parallel.apps.ipcontrollerapp import launch_new_instance
 
-try:
-    launch_new_instance()
-except:
-    exc_type, exc_value, exc_traceback = sys.exc_info()
-    traceback.print_exception(exc_type, exc_value, exc_traceback,
-                              file=sys.stderr)
-    sys.exit(1)
+launch_new_instance()
diff --git a/IPython/parallel/scripts/ipengine b/IPython/parallel/scripts/ipengine
index 5658b24..aa09d93 100755
--- a/IPython/parallel/scripts/ipengine
+++ b/IPython/parallel/scripts/ipengine
@@ -11,15 +11,6 @@
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Imports
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-import sys
-import traceback
-
 from IPython.parallel.apps.ipengineapp import launch_new_instance
 
-try:
-    launch_new_instance()
-except:
-    exc_type, exc_value, exc_traceback = sys.exc_info()
-    traceback.print_exception(exc_type, exc_value, exc_traceback,
-                              file=sys.stderr)
-    sys.exit(1)
+launch_new_instance()
diff --git a/IPython/parallel/scripts/iplogger b/IPython/parallel/scripts/iplogger
index c2af619..b86dfce 100755
--- a/IPython/parallel/scripts/iplogger
+++ b/IPython/parallel/scripts/iplogger
@@ -11,15 +11,6 @@
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Imports
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-import sys
-import traceback
-
 from IPython.parallel.apps.iploggerapp import launch_new_instance
 
-try:
-    launch_new_instance()
-except:
-    exc_type, exc_value, exc_traceback = sys.exc_info()
-    traceback.print_exception(exc_type, exc_value, exc_traceback,
-                              file=sys.stderr)
-    sys.exit(1)
+launch_new_instance()
diff --git a/IPython/scripts/ipython b/IPython/scripts/ipython
index ddb17f9..b435148 100755
--- a/IPython/scripts/ipython
+++ b/IPython/scripts/ipython
@@ -1,15 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 """Terminal-based IPython entry point.
 """
-import sys
-import traceback
 
 from IPython.frontend.terminal.ipapp import launch_new_instance
 
-try:
-    launch_new_instance()
-except:
-    exc_type, exc_value, exc_traceback = sys.exc_info()
-    traceback.print_exception(exc_type, exc_value, exc_traceback,
-                              file=sys.stderr)
-    sys.exit(1)
+launch_new_instance()