diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index c0c5779..98c993e 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -112,6 +112,10 @@ func main() {
 	}
 
 	dbpath := os.Getenv("XBIT_DB")
+	if dbpath == "" {
+		log.Fatal("XBIT_DB not set")
+	}
+
 	var db TimelineDB
 	var err error
 	db.DB, err = sql.Open("sqlite3", dbpath)