diff --git a/couchpotato/core/loader.py b/couchpotato/core/loader.py
index a5816cc2..ee7afcb1 100644
--- a/couchpotato/core/loader.py
+++ b/couchpotato/core/loader.py
@@ -51,8 +51,13 @@ class Loader(object):
                     did_save += self.loadSettings(m, module_name, save = False)
 
                     self.loadPlugins(m, plugin.get('name'))
-                except ImportError:
-                    log.debug('Import error, remove the empty folder: %s' % plugin.get('module'))
+                except ImportError as e:
+                    # todo:: subclass ImportError for missing requirements.
+                    if (e.message.lower().startswith("missing")):
+                        log.error(e.message)
+                        pass
+                    # todo:: this needs to be more descriptive.
+                    log.error('Import error, remove the empty folder: %s' % plugin.get('module'))
                 except:
                     log.error('Can\'t import %s: %s' % (module_name, traceback.format_exc()))
 
diff --git a/couchpotato/core/plugins/browser/main.py b/couchpotato/core/plugins/browser/main.py
index 21d3b4b7..887edc30 100644
--- a/couchpotato/core/plugins/browser/main.py
+++ b/couchpotato/core/plugins/browser/main.py
@@ -6,7 +6,15 @@ import os
 import string
 
 if os.name == 'nt':
-    import win32file
+    import imp
+    try:
+        imp.find_module('win32file')
+    except:
+        # todo:: subclass ImportError for missing dependencies, vs. broken plugins?
+        raise ImportError("Missing the win32file module, which is a part of the prerequisite \
+            pywin32 package. You can get it from http://sourceforge.net/projects/pywin32/files/pywin32/");
+    else:
+        import win32file
 
 class FileBrowser(Plugin):