diff --git a/lib/server/rollbar-server.js b/lib/server/rollbar-server.js
index 7317e33..21a0306 100644
--- a/lib/server/rollbar-server.js
+++ b/lib/server/rollbar-server.js
@@ -23,9 +23,17 @@ var reportAPIConnectionNotPossible = function() {
   console.log(message);
 };
 
+throwErrorIfNotInitialised = function() {
+  if (!allNecessaryKeysAvailable()) {
+    throw new Meteor.Error(403, "Cannot connect to Rollbar API as the following environment variables are not available: [ "
+    + environmentVarsRequired.join(', ') + " ]");
+  }
+};
+
 //
 throwError = function(message) {
   check(message, String);
+  throwErrorIfNotInitialised();
   var exceptionDetails = arguments.length > 1  ? arguments[1] : {};
   var logLevel = arguments.length > 2 ? arguments[2] : 'error';
   check(exceptionDetails, Object);
@@ -46,6 +54,7 @@ handleError = function(error) {
   var logLevel = arguments.length > 2 ? arguments[2] : 'error';
   check(payloadData, Object);
   check(logLevel, String);
+  throwErrorIfNotInitialised();
   rollbar.handleErrorWithPayloadData(error, {
     level: logLevel, 
     custom: payloadData
diff --git a/package.js b/package.js
index 0c4546a..81aa79b 100644
--- a/package.js
+++ b/package.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 Package.describe({
   name: 'saucecode:rollbar',
-  version: '0.0.2',
+  version: '0.0.3',
   summary: 'Rollbar error reporting integrations for Meteor',
   documentation: 'README.md'
 });