diff --git a/charger/config.go b/charger/config.go
index cf8e442ff..bbb307371 100644
--- a/charger/config.go
+++ b/charger/config.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/andig/evcc/api"
+	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 )
 
 type apiFunction string
@@ -38,5 +39,9 @@ func NewFromConfig(typ string, other map[string]interface{}) (charger api.Charge
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid charger type: %s", typ)
 	}
 
+	if err != nil {
+		err = errors.Wrap(err, fmt.Sprintf("cannot create %s charger", typ))
+	}
+
 	return charger, err
 }
diff --git a/cmd/config.go b/cmd/config.go
index af8aa902e..f33f06e93 100644
--- a/cmd/config.go
+++ b/cmd/config.go
@@ -90,6 +90,11 @@ func (cp *ConfigProvider) configureMeters(conf config) {
 		if err != nil {
 			log.FATAL.Fatal(err)
 		}
+
+		if _, exists := cp.meters[cc.Name]; exists {
+			log.FATAL.Fatalf("duplicate meter name: %s already defined and must be unique", cc.Name)
+		}
+
 		cp.meters[cc.Name] = m
 	}
 }
@@ -101,6 +106,11 @@ func (cp *ConfigProvider) configureChargers(conf config) {
 		if err != nil {
 			log.FATAL.Fatal(err)
 		}
+
+		if _, exists := cp.chargers[cc.Name]; exists {
+			log.FATAL.Fatalf("duplicate charger name: %s already defined and must be unique", cc.Name)
+		}
+
 		cp.chargers[cc.Name] = c
 	}
 }
@@ -112,6 +122,11 @@ func (cp *ConfigProvider) configureVehicles(conf config) {
 		if err != nil {
 			log.FATAL.Fatal(err)
 		}
+
+		if _, exists := cp.vehicles[cc.Name]; exists {
+			log.FATAL.Fatalf("duplicate vehicle name: %s already defined and must be unique", cc.Name)
+		}
+
 		cp.vehicles[cc.Name] = v
 	}
 }
diff --git a/meter/config.go b/meter/config.go
index a8f3c9e3b..48353b66b 100644
--- a/meter/config.go
+++ b/meter/config.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/andig/evcc/api"
+	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 )
 
 // NewFromConfig creates meter from configuration
@@ -22,5 +23,9 @@ func NewFromConfig(typ string, other map[string]interface{}) (meter api.Meter, e
 		err = fmt.Errorf("invalid meter type: %s", typ)
 	}
 
+	if err != nil {
+		err = errors.Wrap(err, fmt.Sprintf("cannot create %s meter", typ))
+	}
+
 	return meter, err
 }
diff --git a/vehicle/config.go b/vehicle/config.go
index 674255dcb..f5540d4fa 100644
--- a/vehicle/config.go
+++ b/vehicle/config.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/andig/evcc/api"
+	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 )
 
 // NewFromConfig creates vehicle from configuration
@@ -28,5 +29,9 @@ func NewFromConfig(typ string, other map[string]interface{}) (v api.Vehicle, err
 		err = fmt.Errorf("invalid vehicle type: %s", typ)
 	}
 
+	if err != nil {
+		err = errors.Wrap(err, fmt.Sprintf("cannot create %s vehicle", typ))
+	}
+
 	return
 }