diff --git a/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/configuration/BatchConfigurationException.java b/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/configuration/BatchConfigurationException.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6b1da62a6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/configuration/BatchConfigurationException.java
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2014 the original author or authors.
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package org.springframework.batch.core.configuration;
+
+/**
+ * Represents an error has occured in the configuration of base batch
+ * infrastructure (creation of a {@link org.springframework.batch.core.repository.JobRepository}
+ * for example.
+ *
+ * @author Michael Minella
+ * @since 2.2.6
+ */
+public class BatchConfigurationException extends RuntimeException {
+
+	/**
+	 * @param t an exception to be wrapped
+	 */
+	public BatchConfigurationException(Throwable t) {
+		super(t);
+	}
+}
diff --git a/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/configuration/annotation/DefaultBatchConfigurer.java b/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/configuration/annotation/DefaultBatchConfigurer.java
index 8ad30f99d..0995c9eec 100644
--- a/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/configuration/annotation/DefaultBatchConfigurer.java
+++ b/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/configuration/annotation/DefaultBatchConfigurer.java
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ package org.springframework.batch.core.configuration.annotation;
 import javax.annotation.PostConstruct;
 import javax.sql.DataSource;
 
+import org.springframework.batch.core.configuration.BatchConfigurationException;
 import org.springframework.batch.core.launch.JobLauncher;
 import org.springframework.batch.core.launch.support.SimpleJobLauncher;
 import org.springframework.batch.core.repository.JobRepository;
@@ -63,9 +64,13 @@ public class DefaultBatchConfigurer implements BatchConfigurer {
 	}
 
 	@PostConstruct
-	public void initialize() throws Exception {
-		this.jobRepository = createJobRepository();
-		this.jobLauncher = createJobLauncher();
+	public void initialize() throws BatchConfigurationException {
+		try {
+			this.jobRepository = createJobRepository();
+			this.jobLauncher = createJobLauncher();
+		} catch (Exception e) {
+			throw new BatchConfigurationException(e);
+		}
 	}
 
 	private JobLauncher createJobLauncher() throws Exception {