diff --git a/wicd/translations.py b/wicd/translations.py
index 397236c..98c3ac7 100644
--- a/wicd/translations.py
+++ b/wicd/translations.py
@@ -160,6 +160,7 @@ language['cannot_start_daemon'] = _('Unable to connect to wicd daemon DBus inter
                                 "This typically means there was a problem starting the daemon.  " + \
                                 "Check the wicd log for more info')
 language['lost_dbus'] = _('The wicd daemon has shut down, the UI will not function properly until it is restarted.')
+language['access_denied'] = _("Unable to contact the wicd dameon due to an access denied error from DBus.  Please check your DBus configuration.")
 language['configuring_wireless'] = _('Configuring preferences for wireless network "$A" ($B)')
 language['configuring_wired'] = _('Configuring preferences for wired profile "$A"')
 language['scan'] = _('Scan')
diff --git a/wicd/wicd-client.py b/wicd/wicd-client.py
index f82dd08..8cac87e 100755
--- a/wicd/wicd-client.py
+++ b/wicd/wicd-client.py
@@ -79,7 +79,11 @@ def catchdbus(func):
         try:
             return func(*args, **kwargs)
         except DBusException, e:
-            print "warning: ignoring exception %s" % e
+            if "DBus.Error.AccessDenied" in e:
+                error(None, language['access_denied'])
+                raise DBusException(e)
+            else:
+                print "warning: ignoring exception %s" % e
             return None
     wrapper.__name__ = func.__name__
     wrapper.__module__ = func.__module__
@@ -693,6 +697,7 @@ def handle_no_dbus():
                                                     block=False))
     return False
 
+@catchdbus
 def main(argv):
     """ The main frontend program.