diff --git a/cmd/init.go b/cmd/init.go
index d18fbb9..b08689a 100644
--- a/cmd/init.go
+++ b/cmd/init.go
@@ -43,9 +43,7 @@ Init will not use an existing directory with contents.`,
 		default:
 			log.Fatal("init command does not support more than 1 parameter")
 		}
-		if err != nil {
-			log.WithFields(log.Fields{"error": err}).Fatal("Given path is invalid")
-		}
+		helpers.Check(err, "Given path is invalid")
 
 		initializePath(path)
 	},
@@ -53,14 +51,11 @@ Init will not use an existing directory with contents.`,
 
 func initializePath(path string) {
 	b, err := helpers.Exists(path)
-	if err != nil {
-		log.WithFields(log.Fields{"error": err}).Fatal("Error while checking file")
-	}
+	helpers.Check(err, "Error while checking file")
+
 	if !b {
 		err := os.MkdirAll(path, os.ModePerm)
-		if err != nil {
-			log.WithFields(log.Fields{"error": err}).Fatal("Could not create directory")
-		}
+		helpers.Check(err, "Could not create directory")
 	}
 
 	// createSettings()
diff --git a/helpers/error_utils.go b/helpers/error_utils.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fc6a820
--- /dev/null
+++ b/helpers/error_utils.go
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+// Copyright © 2016 Jip J. Dekker <jip@dekker.li>
+//
+// 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 helpers
+
+import log "github.com/Sirupsen/logrus"
+
+// Crash outputs it's arguments to the log and stops the program
+func Crash(err error, msg string) {
+	log.WithFields(log.Fields{
+		"error": err,
+	}).Fatal(msg)
+}
+
+// Check calls Crash if the error is not nil
+func Check(err error, msg string) {
+	if err != nil {
+		Crash(err, msg)
+	}
+}