diff --git a/server/core/config.c b/server/core/config.c
index 79a185c3e..c5fbb4e5c 100644
--- a/server/core/config.c
+++ b/server/core/config.c
@@ -570,9 +570,14 @@ process_config_context(CONFIG_CONTEXT *context)
      * error_count += consistency_checks();
      */
 
+    if (!service_all_services_have_listeners())
+    {
+        error_count++;
+    }
+
     if (error_count)
     {
-        MXS_ERROR("%d errors where encountered processing the configuration "
+        MXS_ERROR("%d errors were encountered while processing the configuration "
                   "file '%s'.", error_count, config_file);
         return 0;
     }
diff --git a/server/core/service.c b/server/core/service.c
index b741edc81..7eab44d50 100644
--- a/server/core/service.c
+++ b/server/core/service.c
@@ -2249,3 +2249,28 @@ static void service_internal_restart(void *data)
     SERVICE* service = (SERVICE*)data;
     serviceStartAllPorts(service);
 }
+
+/**
+ * Check that all services have listeners
+ * @return True if all services have listeners
+ */
+bool service_all_services_have_listeners()
+{
+    bool rval = true;
+    spinlock_acquire(&service_spin);
+
+    SERVICE* service = allServices;
+
+    while (service)
+    {
+        if (service->ports == NULL)
+        {
+            MXS_ERROR("Service '%s' has no listeners.", service->name);
+            rval = false;
+        }
+        service = service->next;
+    }
+
+    spinlock_release(&service_spin);
+    return rval;
+}
diff --git a/server/include/service.h b/server/include/service.h
index db9d76ad0..05ccf74ec 100644
--- a/server/include/service.h
+++ b/server/include/service.h
@@ -264,5 +264,6 @@ extern void service_shutdown();
 extern int serviceSessionCountAll();
 extern RESULTSET *serviceGetList();
 extern RESULTSET *serviceGetListenerList();
+extern bool service_all_services_have_listeners();
 
 #endif