diff --git a/bitkeylib/__init__.py b/bitkeylib/__init__.py
index e69de29bb..2175ebde9 100644
--- a/bitkeylib/__init__.py
+++ b/bitkeylib/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+try:
+    import bitkey_pb2
+except ImportError:
+    print "bitkey_pb2.py not found. Please run /protobuf/build.sh to generate it!"
+    import sys
+    sys.exit()