diff --git a/akka-core/src/main/scala/config/Config.scala b/akka-core/src/main/scala/config/Config.scala
index c230d45b5d..fbafdb9b68 100644
--- a/akka-core/src/main/scala/config/Config.scala
+++ b/akka-core/src/main/scala/config/Config.scala
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ import se.scalablesolutions.akka.util.Logging
 
 import net.lag.configgy.{Configgy, ParseException}
 
+class ConfigurationException(message: String) extends RuntimeException(message)
+
 /**
  * @author <a href="http://jonasboner.com">Jonas Bon&#233;r</a>
  */
@@ -34,16 +36,18 @@ object Config extends Logging {
         Configgy.configure(configFile)
         log.info("Config loaded from -Dakka.config=%s", configFile)
       } catch {
-        case e: ParseException => throw new IllegalStateException(
-          "Config could not be loaded from -Dakka.config=" + configFile)
+        case e: ParseException => throw new ConfigurationException(
+          "Config could not be loaded from -Dakka.config=" + configFile + 
+          "\n\tdue to: " + e.toString)
       }
     } else if (getClass.getClassLoader.getResource("akka.conf") != null) {
       try {
         Configgy.configureFromResource("akka.conf", getClass.getClassLoader)
         log.info("Config loaded from the application classpath.")
       } catch {
-        case e: ParseException => throw new IllegalStateException(
-          "Can't load 'akka.conf' config file from application classpath.")
+        case e: ParseException => throw new ConfigurationException(
+          "Can't load 'akka.conf' config file from application classpath," +
+          "\n\tdue to: " + e.toString)
       }
     } else if (HOME.isDefined) {
       try {
@@ -51,12 +55,13 @@ object Config extends Logging {
         Configgy.configure(configFile)
         log.info("AKKA_HOME is defined as [%s], config loaded from [%s].", HOME.get, configFile)
       } catch {
-        case e: ParseException => throw new IllegalStateException(
+        case e: ParseException => throw new ConfigurationException(
           "AKKA_HOME is defined as [" + HOME.get + "] " +
-          "but the 'akka.conf' config file can not be found at [" + HOME.get + "/config/akka.conf].")
+          "\n\tbut the 'akka.conf' config file can not be found at [" + HOME.get + "/config/akka.conf]," +
+          "\n\tdue to: " + e.toString)
       }
     } else {
-      throw new IllegalStateException(
+      throw new ConfigurationException(
         "\nCan't load 'akka.conf'." +
         "\nOne of the three ways of locating the 'akka.conf' file needs to be defined:" +
         "\n\t1. Define the '-Dakka.config=...' system property option." +
@@ -69,7 +74,7 @@ object Config extends Logging {
   }
 
   val CONFIG_VERSION = config.getString("akka.version", "0")
-  if (VERSION != CONFIG_VERSION) throw new IllegalStateException(
+  if (VERSION != CONFIG_VERSION) throw new ConfigurationException(
     "Akka JAR version [" + VERSION + "] is different than the provided config ('akka.conf') version [" + CONFIG_VERSION + "]")
   val startTime = System.currentTimeMillis
 
diff --git a/config/akka-reference.conf b/config/akka-reference.conf
index dbe3abca56..8e0a4a04bc 100644
--- a/config/akka-reference.conf
+++ b/config/akka-reference.conf
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
     provider = "from-jndi"   # Options: "from-jndi" (means that Akka will try to detect a TransactionManager in the JNDI) 
                              #          "atomikos" (means that Akka will use the Atomikos based JTA impl in 'akka-jta', 
                              #          e.g. you need the akka-jta JARs on classpath).
-    self.timeout = 60000
+    timeout = 60000
   </jta>
 
   <rest>
@@ -53,12 +53,12 @@
     authenticator = "sample.security.BasicAuthenticationService" # The authentication service to use. Need to be overridden (uses sample now)
     
     #IF you are using a KerberosAuthenticationActor
-    #    <kerberos>
-    #  	  servicePrincipal = "HTTP/localhost@EXAMPLE.COM"
-    #  	  keyTabLocation   = "URL to keytab"
-    #  	  kerberosDebug    = "true"
+    #   <kerberos>
+    #     servicePrincipal = "HTTP/localhost@EXAMPLE.COM"
+    #     keyTabLocation   = "URL to keytab"
+    #     kerberosDebug    = "true"
     #     realm            = "EXAMPLE.COM"
-    #    </kerberos>
+    #   </kerberos>
   </rest>
 
   <remote>