diff --git a/secop/server.py b/secop/server.py
index 2ccad9a..e22cd13 100644
--- a/secop/server.py
+++ b/secop/server.py
@@ -235,15 +235,15 @@ class Server:
                 classname = opts.pop('class')
                 cls = get_class(classname)
                 modobj = cls(modname, self.log.getChild(modname), opts, self)
+                # all used args should be popped from opts!
+                if opts:
+                    errors.append(self.unknown_options(cls, opts))
+                self.modules[modname] = modobj
             except ConfigError as e:
                 errors.append(str(e))
             except Exception as e:
                 badclass = classname
                 errors.append('error while loading %s' % badclass)
-            # all used args should be popped from opts!
-            if opts:
-                self.unknown_options(cls, opts)
-            self.modules[modname] = modobj
 
         poll_table = dict()
         # all objs created, now start them up and interconnect