diff --git a/src/cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.cpp b/src/cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.cpp
index 2934659f..608abea1 100644
--- a/src/cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.cpp
+++ b/src/cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.cpp
@@ -231,6 +231,26 @@ namespace cryptonote
     bool fast_sync = command_line::get_arg(vm, command_line::arg_fast_block_sync) != 0;
     uint64_t blocks_threads = command_line::get_arg(vm, command_line::arg_prep_blocks_threads);
 
+    boost::filesystem::path folder(m_config_folder);
+    if (m_fakechain)
+      folder /= "fake";
+    //
+    // check for blockchain.bin
+    try
+    {
+      const boost::filesystem::path old_files = folder;
+      if (boost::filesystem::exists(old_files / "blockchain.bin"))
+      {
+        LOG_PRINT_RED_L0("Found old-style blockchain.bin in " << old_files.string());
+        LOG_PRINT_RED_L0("Monero now uses a new format. You can either remove blockchain.bin to start syncing");
+        LOG_PRINT_RED_L0("the blockchain anew, or use blockchain_export and blockchain_import to convert your");
+        LOG_PRINT_RED_L0("existing blockchain.bin to the new format. See README.md for instructions.");
+        return false;
+      }
+    }
+    // folder might not be a directory, etc, etc
+    catch (...) { }
+
     BlockchainDB* db = nullptr;
     uint64_t BDB_FAST_MODE = 0;
     uint64_t BDB_FASTEST_MODE = 0;
@@ -257,37 +277,9 @@ namespace cryptonote
       return false;
     }
 
-    boost::filesystem::path folder(m_config_folder);
-
-    if (m_fakechain)
-      folder /= "fake";
-
     folder /= db->get_db_name();
-
     LOG_PRINT_L0("Loading blockchain from folder " << folder.string() << " ...");
 
-    // check for blockchain.bin
-    bool old_blockchain_found = false;
-    try
-    {
-      const boost::filesystem::path old_files = folder.parent_path();
-      if (boost::filesystem::exists(folder.parent_path() / "blockchain.bin"))
-      {
-        LOG_PRINT_L0("Found old-style blockchain.bin in " << old_files.string());
-        LOG_PRINT_L0("Monero now uses a new format. You can either remove blockchain.bin to start syncing");
-        LOG_PRINT_L0("the blockchain anew, or use blockchain_export and blockchain_import to convert your");
-        LOG_PRINT_L0("existing blockchain.bin to the new format. See README.md for instructions.");
-        old_blockchain_found = true;
-      }
-    }
-    // folder might not be a directory, etc, etc
-    catch (...) {}
-
-    if (old_blockchain_found)
-    {
-      throw DB_ERROR("Database could not be opened");
-    }
-
     const std::string filename = folder.string();
     // temporarily default to fastest:async:1000
     blockchain_db_sync_mode sync_mode = db_async;
diff --git a/src/daemon/core.h b/src/daemon/core.h
index ea76289d..2208ef25 100644
--- a/src/daemon/core.h
+++ b/src/daemon/core.h
@@ -66,15 +66,16 @@ public:
     m_core.set_cryptonote_protocol(&protocol);
   }
 
-  void run()
+  bool run()
   {
     //initialize core here
     LOG_PRINT_L0("Initializing core...");
     if (!m_core.init(m_vm_HACK))
     {
-      throw std::runtime_error("Failed to initialize core");
+      return false;
     }
     LOG_PRINT_L0("Core initialized OK");
+    return true;
   }
 
   cryptonote::core & get()
diff --git a/src/daemon/daemon.cpp b/src/daemon/daemon.cpp
index 6093ecdf..ed6a6672 100644
--- a/src/daemon/daemon.cpp
+++ b/src/daemon/daemon.cpp
@@ -118,7 +118,8 @@ bool t_daemon::run(bool interactive)
 
   try
   {
-    mp_internals->core.run();
+    if (!mp_internals->core.run())
+      return false;
     mp_internals->rpc.run();
 
     daemonize::t_command_server* rpc_commands;