diff --git a/ssg/yaml.py b/ssg/yaml.py
index f85eac30c5c..935bb3165a9 100644
--- a/ssg/yaml.py
+++ b/ssg/yaml.py
@@ -154,7 +154,16 @@ def construct_mapping(loader, node):
     OrderedLoader.add_constructor(
         yaml.resolver.BaseResolver.DEFAULT_MAPPING_TAG,
         construct_mapping)
-    return yaml.load(stream, OrderedLoader)
+
+    try:
+        yaml_loaded = yaml.load(stream, OrderedLoader)
+    except yaml.scanner.ScannerError as e:
+        print("Error when trying to load the stream: {}".format(e))
+        print("HINT: Ansible tasks names may cause expansion errors if not properly quoted.")
+        print("HINT: Check for unquoted colons or other special symbols in the stream:")
+        print("{}".format(stream))
+        sys.exit(1)
+    return yaml_loaded
 
 
 def ordered_dump(data, stream=None, Dumper=yaml_Dumper, **kwds):