diff --git a/beets/__init__.py b/beets/__init__.py
index e9cc10e08..e3e5fdf83 100644
--- a/beets/__init__.py
+++ b/beets/__init__.py
@@ -35,9 +35,8 @@ class IncludeLazyConfig(confuse.LazyConfig):
         except confuse.NotFoundError:
             pass
         except confuse.ConfigReadError as err:
-            stderr.write("Configuration 'import' failed: {}"
+            stderr.write("configuration `import` failed: {}"
                          .format(err.reason))
-            pass
 
 
 config = IncludeLazyConfig('beets', __name__)
diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index 97cc7ca12..9a4ad0988 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -160,6 +160,8 @@ Fixes:
   :bug:`3480`
 * :doc:`/plugins/parentwork`: Don't save tracks when nothing has changed.
   :bug:`3492`
+* Added a warning when configuration files defined in the `include` directive
+  of the configuration file fail to be imported.
 
 For plugin developers: