diff --git a/util/decoder.go b/util/decoder.go
index 19cba3e43..3d6528d2f 100644
--- a/util/decoder.go
+++ b/util/decoder.go
@@ -43,6 +43,10 @@ type ConfigError struct {
 	err error
 }
 
+func NewConfigError(err error) error {
+	return &ConfigError{err}
+}
+
 func (e *ConfigError) Error() string {
 	return e.err.Error()
 }
diff --git a/util/templates/render_instance.go b/util/templates/render_instance.go
index 645ffda99..0dd30c806 100644
--- a/util/templates/render_instance.go
+++ b/util/templates/render_instance.go
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ func RenderInstance(class Class, other map[string]interface{}) (*Instance, error
 
 	b, _, err := tmpl.RenderResult(TemplateRenderModeInstance, other)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+		return nil, util.NewConfigError(err)
 	}
 
 	var instance Instance