diff --git a/jrnl/EncryptedJournal.py b/jrnl/EncryptedJournal.py
index 7354e7a2a..704a091ab 100644
--- a/jrnl/EncryptedJournal.py
+++ b/jrnl/EncryptedJournal.py
@@ -21,6 +21,11 @@
 from .Journal import LegacyJournal
 from .prompt import create_password
 
+from jrnl.exception import JrnlException
+from jrnl.messages import Message
+from jrnl.messages import MsgText
+from jrnl.messages import MsgType
+
 
 def make_key(password):
     password = password.encode("utf-8")
@@ -53,11 +58,11 @@ def decrypt_content(
         password = getpass.getpass()
         result = decrypt_func(password)
         attempt += 1
-    if result is not None:
-        return result
-    else:
-        print("Extremely wrong password.", file=sys.stderr)
-        sys.exit(1)
+
+    if result is None:
+        raise JrnlException(Message(MsgText.PasswordMaxTriesExceeded, MsgType.ERROR))
+
+    return result
 
 
 class EncryptedJournal(Journal):
@@ -121,15 +126,11 @@ def _store(self, filename, text):
     @classmethod
     def from_journal(cls, other: Journal):
         new_journal = super().from_journal(other)
-        try:
-            new_journal.password = (
-                other.password
-                if hasattr(other, "password")
-                else create_password(other.name)
-            )
-        except KeyboardInterrupt:
-            print("[Interrupted while creating new journal]", file=sys.stderr)
-            sys.exit(1)
+        new_journal.password = (
+            other.password
+            if hasattr(other, "password")
+            else create_password(other.name)
+        )
 
         return new_journal
 
diff --git a/jrnl/Journal.py b/jrnl/Journal.py
index 17de129f6..bf446a927 100644
--- a/jrnl/Journal.py
+++ b/jrnl/Journal.py
@@ -431,13 +431,6 @@ def open_journal(journal_name, config, legacy=False):
 
     from . import EncryptedJournal
 
-    try:
-        if legacy:
-            return EncryptedJournal.LegacyEncryptedJournal(
-                journal_name, **config
-            ).open()
-        return EncryptedJournal.EncryptedJournal(journal_name, **config).open()
-    except KeyboardInterrupt:
-        # Since encrypted journals prompt for a password, it's easy for a user to ctrl+c out
-        print("[Interrupted while opening journal]", file=sys.stderr)
-        sys.exit(1)
+    if legacy:
+        return EncryptedJournal.LegacyEncryptedJournal(journal_name, **config).open()
+    return EncryptedJournal.EncryptedJournal(journal_name, **config).open()
diff --git a/jrnl/cli.py b/jrnl/cli.py
index 03b4f2f0c..cd33f2ec7 100644
--- a/jrnl/cli.py
+++ b/jrnl/cli.py
@@ -5,9 +5,10 @@
 import sys
 import traceback
 
-from jrnl.jrnl import run
-from jrnl.args import parse_args
+from .jrnl import run
+from .args import parse_args
 from jrnl.output import print_msg
+
 from jrnl.exception import JrnlException
 from jrnl.messages import Message
 from jrnl.messages import MsgText
@@ -36,25 +37,40 @@ def cli(manual_args=None):
         configure_logger(args.debug)
         logging.debug("Parsed args: %s", args)
 
-        return run(args)
+        status_code = run(args)
 
     except JrnlException as e:
+        status_code = 1
         e.print()
-        return 1
 
     except KeyboardInterrupt:
-        print_msg(Message(MsgText.KeyboardInterruptMsg, MsgType.WARNING))
-        return 1
+        status_code = 1
+        print_msg("\nKeyboardInterrupt", "\nAborted by user", msg=Message.ERROR)
 
     except Exception as e:
+        # uncaught exception
+        status_code = 1
+        debug = False
         try:
-            is_debug = args.debug  # type: ignore
+            if args.debug:  # type: ignore
+                debug = True
         except NameError:
-            # error happened before args were parsed
-            is_debug = "--debug" in sys.argv[1:]
+            # This should only happen when the exception
+            # happened before the args were parsed
+            if "--debug" in sys.argv:
+                debug = True
 
-        if is_debug:
+        if debug:
+            print("\n")
             traceback.print_tb(sys.exc_info()[2])
 
-        print_msg(Message(MsgText.UncaughtException, MsgType.ERROR, {"exception": e}))
-        return 1
+        print_msg(
+            Message(
+                MsgText.UncaughtException,
+                MsgType.ERROR,
+                {"name": type(e).__name__, "exception": e},
+            )
+        )
+
+    # This should be the only exit point
+    return status_code
diff --git a/jrnl/config.py b/jrnl/config.py
index 63de05867..2b07b14bb 100644
--- a/jrnl/config.py
+++ b/jrnl/config.py
@@ -197,9 +197,13 @@ def get_journal_name(args, config):
             args.text = args.text[1:]
 
     if args.journal_name not in config["journals"]:
-        print("No default journal configured.", file=sys.stderr)
-        print(list_journals(config), file=sys.stderr)
-        sys.exit(1)
+        raise JrnlException(
+            Message(
+                MsgText.NoDefaultJournal,
+                MsgType.ERROR,
+                {"journals": list_journals(config)},
+            ),
+        )
 
     logging.debug("Using journal name: %s", args.journal_name)
     return args
diff --git a/jrnl/editor.py b/jrnl/editor.py
index 81ca659ac..24c625de5 100644
--- a/jrnl/editor.py
+++ b/jrnl/editor.py
@@ -3,11 +3,8 @@
 import subprocess
 import sys
 import tempfile
-import textwrap
 from pathlib import Path
 
-from jrnl.color import ERROR_COLOR
-from jrnl.color import RESET_COLOR
 from jrnl.os_compat import on_windows
 from jrnl.os_compat import split_args
 from jrnl.output import print_msg
@@ -32,22 +29,21 @@ def get_text_from_editor(config, template=""):
 
     try:
         subprocess.call(split_args(config["editor"]) + [tmpfile])
-    except FileNotFoundError as e:
-        error_msg = f"""
-        {ERROR_COLOR}{str(e)}{RESET_COLOR}
-
-        Please check the 'editor' key in your config file for errors:
-            {repr(config['editor'])}
-        """
-        print(textwrap.dedent(error_msg).strip(), file=sys.stderr)
-        exit(1)
+    except FileNotFoundError:
+        raise JrnlException(
+            Message(
+                MsgText.EditorMisconfigured,
+                MsgType.ERROR,
+                {"editor_key": config["editor"]},
+            )
+        )
 
     with open(tmpfile, "r", encoding="utf-8") as f:
         raw = f.read()
     os.remove(tmpfile)
 
     if not raw:
-        print("[Nothing saved to file]", file=sys.stderr)
+        raise JrnlException(Message(MsgText.NoTextReceived, MsgType.ERROR))
 
     return raw
 
diff --git a/jrnl/exception.py b/jrnl/exception.py
index 76da211db..fdfa61a44 100644
--- a/jrnl/exception.py
+++ b/jrnl/exception.py
@@ -4,16 +4,6 @@
 from jrnl.output import print_msg
 
 
-class UserAbort(Exception):
-    pass
-
-
-class UpgradeValidationException(Exception):
-    """Raised when the contents of an upgraded journal do not match the old journal"""
-
-    pass
-
-
 class JrnlException(Exception):
     """Common exceptions raised by jrnl."""
 
diff --git a/jrnl/install.py b/jrnl/install.py
index b2b583cfb..306b44e15 100644
--- a/jrnl/install.py
+++ b/jrnl/install.py
@@ -14,10 +14,14 @@
 from .config import load_config
 from .config import save_config
 from .config import verify_config_colors
-from .exception import UserAbort
 from .prompt import yesno
 from .upgrade import is_old_version
 
+from jrnl.exception import JrnlException
+from jrnl.messages import Message
+from jrnl.messages import MsgText
+from jrnl.messages import MsgType
+
 
 def upgrade_config(config_data, alt_config_path=None):
     """Checks if there are keys missing in a given config dict, and if so, updates the config file accordingly.
@@ -47,14 +51,14 @@ def find_default_config():
 
 
 def find_alt_config(alt_config):
-    if os.path.exists(alt_config):
-        return alt_config
-    else:
-        print(
-            "Alternate configuration file not found at path specified.", file=sys.stderr
+    if not os.path.exists(alt_config):
+        raise JrnlException(
+            Message(
+                MsgText.AltConfigNotFound, MsgType.ERROR, {"config_file": alt_config}
+            )
         )
-        print("Exiting.", file=sys.stderr)
-        sys.exit(1)
+
+    return alt_config
 
 
 def load_or_install_jrnl(alt_config_path):
@@ -72,32 +76,16 @@ def load_or_install_jrnl(alt_config_path):
         config = load_config(config_path)
 
         if is_old_version(config_path):
-            from . import upgrade
-
-            try:
-                upgrade.upgrade_jrnl(config_path)
-            except upgrade.UpgradeValidationException:
-                print("Aborting upgrade.", file=sys.stderr)
-                print(
-                    "Please tell us about this problem at the following URL:",
-                    file=sys.stderr,
-                )
-                print(
-                    "https://github.com/jrnl-org/jrnl/issues/new?title=UpgradeValidationException",
-                    file=sys.stderr,
-                )
-                print("Exiting.", file=sys.stderr)
-                sys.exit(1)
+            from jrnl import upgrade
+
+            upgrade.upgrade_jrnl(config_path)
 
         upgrade_config(config, alt_config_path)
         verify_config_colors(config)
 
     else:
         logging.debug("Configuration file not found, installing jrnl...")
-        try:
-            config = install()
-        except KeyboardInterrupt:
-            raise UserAbort("Installation aborted")
+        config = install()
 
     logging.debug('Using configuration "%s"', config)
     return config
diff --git a/jrnl/jrnl.py b/jrnl/jrnl.py
index 232eb7028..8014b628e 100644
--- a/jrnl/jrnl.py
+++ b/jrnl/jrnl.py
@@ -7,17 +7,19 @@
 from . import install
 from . import plugins
 from .Journal import open_journal
-from .color import ERROR_COLOR
-from .color import RESET_COLOR
 from .config import get_journal_name
 from .config import scope_config
 from .config import get_config_path
 from .editor import get_text_from_editor
 from .editor import get_text_from_stdin
-from .exception import UserAbort
 from . import time
 from .override import apply_overrides
 
+from jrnl.exception import JrnlException
+from jrnl.messages import Message
+from jrnl.messages import MsgText
+from jrnl.messages import MsgType
+
 
 def run(args):
     """
@@ -35,18 +37,14 @@ def run(args):
         return args.preconfig_cmd(args)
 
     # Load the config, and extract journal name
-    try:
-        config = install.load_or_install_jrnl(args.config_file_path)
-        original_config = config.copy()
+    config = install.load_or_install_jrnl(args.config_file_path)
+    original_config = config.copy()
 
-        # Apply config overrides
-        config = apply_overrides(args, config)
+    # Apply config overrides
+    config = apply_overrides(args, config)
 
-        args = get_journal_name(args, config)
-        config = scope_config(config, args.journal_name)
-    except UserAbort as err:
-        print(f"\n{err}", file=sys.stderr)
-        sys.exit(1)
+    args = get_journal_name(args, config)
+    config = scope_config(config, args.journal_name)
 
     # Run post-config command now that config is ready
     if callable(args.postconfig_cmd):
@@ -138,7 +136,9 @@ def write_mode(args, config, journal, **kwargs):
 
     if not raw:
         logging.error("Write mode: couldn't get raw text")
-        sys.exit()
+        raise JrnlException(
+            Message(MsgText.JrnlExceptionMessage.NoTextReceived, MsgType.ERROR)
+        )
 
     logging.debug(
         'Write mode: appending raw text to journal "%s": %s', args.journal_name, raw
@@ -202,11 +202,13 @@ def _get_editor_template(config, **kwargs):
         logging.debug("Write mode: template loaded: %s", template)
     except OSError:
         logging.error("Write mode: template not loaded")
-        print(
-            f"[Could not read template at '{config['template']}']",
-            file=sys.stderr,
+        raise JrnlException(
+            Message(
+                MsgText.CantReadTemplate,
+                MsgType.ERROR,
+                {"template": config["template"]},
+            )
         )
-        sys.exit(1)
 
     return template
 
@@ -243,16 +245,13 @@ def _edit_search_results(config, journal, old_entries, **kwargs):
     3. Write modifications to journal
     """
     if not config["editor"]:
-        print(
-            f"""
-            [{ERROR_COLOR}ERROR{RESET_COLOR}: There is no editor configured.]
-
-            Please specify an editor in config file ({get_config_path()})
-            to use the --edit option.
-            """,
-            file=sys.stderr,
+        raise JrnlException(
+            Message(
+                MsgText.EditorNotConfigured,
+                MsgType.ERROR,
+                {"config_file": get_config_path()},
+            )
         )
-        sys.exit(1)
 
     # separate entries we are not editing
     other_entries = [e for e in old_entries if e not in journal.entries]
@@ -310,11 +309,7 @@ def _pluralize_entry(num):
 
 def _delete_search_results(journal, old_entries, **kwargs):
     if not journal.entries:
-        print(
-            "[No entries deleted, because the search returned no results.]",
-            file=sys.stderr,
-        )
-        sys.exit(1)
+        raise JrnlException(Message(MsgText.NothingToDelete, MsgType.ERROR))
 
     entries_to_delete = journal.prompt_delete_entries()
 
diff --git a/jrnl/messages.py b/jrnl/messages.py
index eed0cbaef..e6a1933a7 100644
--- a/jrnl/messages.py
+++ b/jrnl/messages.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ def __str__(self) -> str:
 
     # --- Exceptions ---#
     UncaughtException = """
-        ERROR
+        {name}
         {exception}
 
         This is probably a bug. Please file an issue at:
@@ -61,6 +61,14 @@ def __str__(self) -> str:
 
     KeyboardInterruptMsg = "Aborted by user"
 
+    CantReadTemplate = """
+        Unreadable template
+        Could not read template file at:
+        {template}
+        """
+
+    NoDefaultJournal = "No default journal configured\n{journals}"
+
     # --- Journal status ---#
     JournalNotSaved = "Entry NOT saved to journal"
 
@@ -72,6 +80,56 @@ def __str__(self) -> str:
     HowToQuitWindows = "Ctrl+z and then Enter"
     HowToQuitLinux = "Ctrl+d"
 
+    EditorMisconfigured = """
+        No such file or directory: '{editor_key}'
+
+        Please check the 'editor' key in your config file for errors:
+            editor: '{editor_key}'
+        """
+
+    EditorNotConfigured = """
+        There is no editor configured
+
+        To use the --edit option, please specify an editor your config file:
+            {config_file}
+
+        For examples of how to configure an external editor, see:
+            https://jrnl.sh/en/stable/external-editors/
+        """
+
+    NoTextReceived = """
+        Nothing saved to file
+        """
+
+    # --- Upgrade --- #
+    JournalFailedUpgrade = """
+        The following journal{s} failed to upgrade:
+        {failed_journals}
+
+        Please tell us about this problem at the following URL:
+        https://github.com/jrnl-org/jrnl/issues/new?title=JournalFailedUpgrade
+        """
+
+    UpgradeAborted = "jrnl was NOT upgraded"
+
+    ImportAborted = "Entries were NOT imported"
+
+    # -- Config --- #
+    AltConfigNotFound = """
+        Alternate configuration file not found at the given path:
+            {config_file}
+        """
+
+    # --- Password --- #
+    PasswordMaxTriesExceeded = """
+        Too many attempts with wrong password
+        """
+
+    # --- Search --- #
+    NothingToDelete = """
+        No entries to delete, because the search returned no results
+        """
+
 
 class Message(NamedTuple):
     text: MsgText
diff --git a/jrnl/output.py b/jrnl/output.py
index 4f28b96ab..f31a02e26 100644
--- a/jrnl/output.py
+++ b/jrnl/output.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ def list_journals(configuration):
     from . import config
 
     """List the journals specified in the configuration file"""
-    result = f"Journals defined in {config.get_config_path()}\n"
+    result = f"Journals defined in config ({config.get_config_path()})\n"
     ml = min(max(len(k) for k in configuration["journals"]), 20)
     for journal, cfg in configuration["journals"].items():
         result += " * {:{}} -> {}\n".format(
diff --git a/jrnl/plugins/jrnl_importer.py b/jrnl/plugins/jrnl_importer.py
index 214fc70b4..54dd2ab83 100644
--- a/jrnl/plugins/jrnl_importer.py
+++ b/jrnl/plugins/jrnl_importer.py
@@ -4,6 +4,11 @@
 
 import sys
 
+from jrnl.exception import JrnlException
+from jrnl.messages import Message
+from jrnl.messages import MsgText
+from jrnl.messages import MsgType
+
 
 class JRNLImporter:
     """This plugin imports entries from other jrnl files."""
@@ -22,8 +27,11 @@ def import_(journal, input=None):
             try:
                 other_journal_txt = sys.stdin.read()
             except KeyboardInterrupt:
-                print("[Entries NOT imported into journal.]", file=sys.stderr)
-                sys.exit(0)
+                raise JrnlException(
+                    Message(MsgText.KeyboardInterruptMsg, MsgType.ERROR),
+                    Message(MsgText.ImportAborted, MsgType.WARNING),
+                )
+
         journal.import_(other_journal_txt)
         new_cnt = len(journal.entries)
         print(
diff --git a/jrnl/upgrade.py b/jrnl/upgrade.py
index 158f8de3f..3027f4e7e 100644
--- a/jrnl/upgrade.py
+++ b/jrnl/upgrade.py
@@ -10,10 +10,15 @@
 from .config import is_config_json
 from .config import load_config
 from .config import scope_config
-from .exception import UpgradeValidationException
-from .exception import UserAbort
 from .prompt import yesno
 
+from jrnl.output import print_msg
+
+from jrnl.exception import JrnlException
+from jrnl.messages import Message
+from jrnl.messages import MsgText
+from jrnl.messages import MsgType
+
 
 def backup(filename, binary=False):
     print(f"  Created a backup at {filename}.backup", file=sys.stderr)
@@ -27,13 +32,9 @@ def backup(filename, binary=False):
             backup.write(contents)
     except FileNotFoundError:
         print(f"\nError: {filename} does not exist.")
-        try:
-            cont = yesno(f"\nCreate {filename}?", default=False)
-            if not cont:
-                raise KeyboardInterrupt
-
-        except KeyboardInterrupt:
-            raise UserAbort("jrnl NOT upgraded, exiting.")
+        cont = yesno(f"\nCreate {filename}?", default=False)
+        if not cont:
+            raise JrnlException(Message(MsgText.UpgradeAborted), MsgType.WARNING)
 
 
 def check_exists(path):
@@ -121,12 +122,9 @@ def upgrade_jrnl(config_path):
                 file=sys.stderr,
             )
 
-    try:
-        cont = yesno("\nContinue upgrading jrnl?", default=False)
-        if not cont:
-            raise KeyboardInterrupt
-    except KeyboardInterrupt:
-        raise UserAbort("jrnl NOT upgraded, exiting.")
+    cont = yesno("\nContinue upgrading jrnl?", default=False)
+    if not cont:
+        raise JrnlException(Message(MsgText.UpgradeAborted), MsgType.WARNING)
 
     for journal_name, path in encrypted_journals.items():
         print(
@@ -154,16 +152,19 @@ def upgrade_jrnl(config_path):
     failed_journals = [j for j in all_journals if not j.validate_parsing()]
 
     if len(failed_journals) > 0:
-        print(
-            "\nThe following journal{} failed to upgrade:\n{}".format(
-                "s" if len(failed_journals) > 1 else "",
-                "\n".join(j.name for j in failed_journals),
-            ),
-            file=sys.stderr,
+        print_msg("Aborting upgrade.", msg=Message.NORMAL)
+
+        raise JrnlException(
+            Message(
+                MsgText.JournalFailedUpgrade,
+                MsgType.ERROR,
+                {
+                    "s": "s" if len(failed_journals) > 1 else "",
+                    "failed_journals": "\n".join(j.name for j in failed_journals),
+                },
+            )
         )
 
-        raise UpgradeValidationException
-
     # write all journals - or - don't
     for j in all_journals:
         j.write()
diff --git a/tests/bdd/features/delete.feature b/tests/bdd/features/delete.feature
index cfbe08ee2..fe323966a 100644
--- a/tests/bdd/features/delete.feature
+++ b/tests/bdd/features/delete.feature
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ Feature: Delete entries from journal
     Scenario Outline: Delete flag with nonsense input deletes nothing (issue #932)
         Given we use the config "<config_file>"
         When we run "jrnl --delete asdfasdf"
+        Then the output should contain "No entries to delete"
         When we run "jrnl -99 --short"
         Then the output should be
             2020-08-29 11:11 Entry the first.
diff --git a/tests/bdd/features/write.feature b/tests/bdd/features/write.feature
index 062c5fef6..60f220021 100644
--- a/tests/bdd/features/write.feature
+++ b/tests/bdd/features/write.feature
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ Feature: Writing new entries.
         And we write nothing to the editor if opened
         And we use the password "test" if prompted
         When we run "jrnl --edit"
-        Then the error output should contain "[Nothing saved to file]"
+        Then the error output should contain "Nothing saved to file"
         And the editor should have been called
 
         Examples: configs
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_config_file.py b/tests/unit/test_config_file.py
index 04766f4a3..f9cdb7ecd 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_config_file.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_config_file.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 import os
 
 from jrnl.install import find_alt_config
+from jrnl.exception import JrnlException
 
 
 def test_find_alt_config(request):
@@ -14,9 +15,9 @@ def test_find_alt_config(request):
 
 def test_find_alt_config_not_exist(request):
     bad_config_path = os.path.join(
-        request.fspath.dirname, "..", "data", "configs", "not-existing-config.yaml"
+        request.fspath.dirname, "..", "data", "configs", "does-not-exist.yaml"
     )
-    with pytest.raises(SystemExit) as ex:
+    with pytest.raises(JrnlException) as ex:
         found_alt_config = find_alt_config(bad_config_path)
         assert found_alt_config is not None
-    assert isinstance(ex.value, SystemExit)
+    assert isinstance(ex.value, JrnlException)
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_export.py b/tests/unit/test_export.py
index 05c29a1f7..1ca8856f3 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_export.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_export.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import pytest
 
 from jrnl.exception import JrnlException
-
 from jrnl.plugins.fancy_exporter import check_provided_linewrap_viability