diff --git a/lib/workling.rb b/lib/workling.rb
index 7640642..bdc9093 100644
--- a/lib/workling.rb
+++ b/lib/workling.rb
@@ -164,6 +164,11 @@ def self.config
 
     return nil unless File.exists?(config_path)
 
+    yaml_config= YAML.load(ERB.new(IO.read(config_path)).result)
+    config_name = (yaml_config[env] ? env : (yaml_config['development'] ? 'development' : 'default'))
+    config=yaml_config[config_name]
+    raise "Can't find a configuration for the environments #{env}, development or default" unless config
+
     @@config ||= YAML.load_file(config_path)[env || 'development'].symbolize_keys
     @@config[:memcache_options].symbolize_keys! if @@config[:memcache_options]
     @@config
diff --git a/lib/workling/clients/sqs_client.rb b/lib/workling/clients/sqs_client.rb
index 68ac70e..d7c3201 100644
--- a/lib/workling/clients/sqs_client.rb
+++ b/lib/workling/clients/sqs_client.rb
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 require 'json'
-require 'right_aws'
 
 #
 #  An SQS client
@@ -37,7 +36,23 @@ class SqsClient < Workling::Clients::BrokerBase
         DEFAULT_VISIBILITY_TIMEOUT = 30
         DEFAULT_VISIBILITY_RESERVE = 10
       end
-      
+
+      def self.load
+          raise WorklingError.new(
+                  "WORKLING: couldn't find the ruby aws client - you need it for the sqs runner. " \
+ "Install it with sudo gem install right_aws "
+          ) unless installed?
+      end
+
+      def self.installed?
+        begin
+          gem 'right_aws'
+          require 'right_aws'
+        rescue LoadError
+        end
+
+        Object.const_defined? "RightAws"
+      end
       # Mainly exposed for testing purposes
       attr_reader :sqs_options
       attr_reader :messages_per_req
diff --git a/test/extensions/clients/sqs_client_test.rb b/test/extensions/clients/sqs_client_test.rb
index c97b144..33f13a9 100644
--- a/test/extensions/clients/sqs_client_test.rb
+++ b/test/extensions/clients/sqs_client_test.rb
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 require File.dirname(__FILE__) + '/../../test_helper'
+require 'right_aws'
 
 context "The SQS client" do
 
@@ -19,6 +20,22 @@
     @client.stubs(:env).returns('test')
     @client.connect
   end
+
+  context "loading" do
+ 
+    specify "should be installed" do
+      Workling::Clients::SqsClient.installed?.should == true
+    end
+
+    specify "should be able to load" do
+      lambda { Workling::Clients::SqsClient.load}.should.not.raise
+    end
+
+    specify "should raise on load if not installed" do
+      Workling::Clients::SqsClient.stubs(:installed?).returns(false)
+      lambda { Workling::Clients::SqsClient.load}.should.raise Workling::WorklingError
+    end
+  end
   
   context "when connecting" do