diff --git a/electrum b/electrum
index 968c8da74..0850c47ce 100755
--- a/electrum
+++ b/electrum
@@ -345,7 +345,7 @@ def run_cmdline(config):
         try:
             result = func(*args)
         except Exception:
-            traceback.print_exc(file=sys.stdout)
+            traceback.print_exc(file=sys.stderr)
             sys.exit(1)
 
         if type(result) == str:
diff --git a/lib/commands.py b/lib/commands.py
index d49e8dace..4ae6e4766 100644
--- a/lib/commands.py
+++ b/lib/commands.py
@@ -584,6 +584,8 @@ class Commands:
     def signrequest(self, address):
         "Sign payment request with an OpenAlias"
         alias = self.config.get('alias')
+        if not alias:
+            raise BaseException('No alias in your configuration')
         alias_addr = self.contacts.resolve(alias)['address']
         self.wallet.sign_payment_request(address, alias, alias_addr, self.password)