--- a/sbsv2/raptor/bin/sbs_filter.py	Tue Nov 02 16:54:53 2010 +0800
+++ b/sbsv2/raptor/bin/sbs_filter.py	Fri Nov 12 14:49:36 2010 +0000
@@ -59,9 +59,13 @@
 
 	# Open the requested plugins using the pluginbox
 	the_raptor.out.open(raptor_params, the_raptor.filterList, pbox)
-	
+
+except ValueError, e:
+	sys.stderr.write("error: problem while creating filters: {0}\n".format(str(e)))
+	sys.exit(1)
 except Exception, e:
-	sys.stderr.write("error: problem while creating filters %s\n" % str(e))
+	# Unrecognised exception: print a traceback
+	sys.stderr.write("error: problem while creating filters: {0}\n".format(str(e)))
 	traceback.print_exc()
 	sys.exit(1)