diff --git a/libqtile/core/manager.py b/libqtile/core/manager.py
index 962a788995..e1e1849c5e 100644
--- a/libqtile/core/manager.py
+++ b/libqtile/core/manager.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@
 import xcffib.xproto
 
 import libqtile
-from libqtile import confreader, hook, ipc, utils, window
+from libqtile import hook, ipc, utils, window
 from libqtile.backend.x11 import xcbq
 from libqtile.command import interface
 from libqtile.command.base import CommandError, CommandException, CommandObject
@@ -104,11 +104,8 @@ def load_config(self):
             self.config.load()
             self.config.validate()
         except Exception as e:
-            logger.exception('Error while reading config file (%s)', e)
-            self.config = confreader.Config()
-            from libqtile.widget import TextBox
-            widgets = self.config.screens[0].bottom.widgets
-            widgets.insert(0, TextBox('Config Err!'))
+            msg = "Woops! Error in config: " + e.__class__.__name__
+            send_notification("Qtile Config", msg, timeout=20000)
 
         self.core.wmname = getattr(self.config, "wmname", "qtile")
 
diff --git a/libqtile/popup.py b/libqtile/popup.py
index e6708ca132..560eda3908 100644
--- a/libqtile/popup.py
+++ b/libqtile/popup.py
@@ -19,8 +19,11 @@
 # SOFTWARE.
 
 
+import asyncio
+
 from xcffib.xproto import StackMode
 
+import libqtile
 from libqtile import configurable, drawer, pangocffi, window
 
 
@@ -29,26 +32,30 @@ class Popup(configurable.Configurable):
     This class can be used to create popup windows that display images and/or text.
     """
     defaults = [
-        ('opacity', 1.0, 'Opacity of notifications.'),
+        ('opacity', 1.0, 'Opacity of window.'),
         ('foreground', '#ffffff', 'Colour of text.'),
         ('background', '#111111', 'Background colour.'),
-        ('border', '#111111', 'Border colour.'),
-        ('border_width', 0, 'Line width of drawn borders.'),
+        ('border', '#ffffff', 'Border colour.'),
+        ('border_width', 1, 'Line width of drawn borders.'),
         ('corner_radius', None, 'Corner radius for round corners, or None.'),
         ('font', 'sans', 'Font used in notifications.'),
         ('font_size', 14, 'Size of font.'),
         ('fontshadow', None, 'Colour for text shadows, or None for no shadows.'),
-        ('horizontal_padding', 0, 'Padding at sides of text.'),
-        ('vertical_padding', 0, 'Padding at top and bottom of text.'),
+        ('horizontal_padding', 4, 'Padding at sides of text.'),
+        ('vertical_padding', 4, 'Padding at top and bottom of text.'),
         ('text_alignment', 'left', 'Text alignment: left, center or right.'),
         ('wrap', True, 'Whether to wrap text.'),
     ]
 
     def __init__(self, qtile, x=50, y=50, width=256, height=64, **config):
-        configurable.Configurable.__init__(self, **config)
+        configurable.Configurable.__init__(self, x=x, y=y, width=width, height=height, **config)
         self.add_defaults(Popup.defaults)
         self.qtile = qtile
 
+        if qtile.current_screen:
+            self.x += qtile.current_screen.x
+            self.y += qtile.current_screen.y
+
         win = qtile.conn.create_window(x, y, width, height)
         win.set_property("QTILE_INTERNAL", 1)
         self.win = window.Internal(win, qtile)
@@ -77,8 +84,6 @@ def __init__(self, qtile, x=50, y=50, width=256, height=64, **config):
         self.win.handle_KeyPress = self._handle_KeyPress
         self.win.handle_ButtonPress = self._handle_ButtonPress
 
-        self.x = self.win.x
-        self.y = self.win.y
         if not self.border_width:
             self.border = None
 
@@ -166,3 +171,22 @@ def hide(self):
 
     def kill(self):
         self.win.kill()
+
+
+def send_popup(message, timeout=10000, **config):
+    """Create a transient popup window to display some text."""
+    popup = Popup(libqtile.qtile, **config)
+    popup.win.handle_ButtonPress = lambda ev: popup.kill()
+    popup.clear()
+    popup.text = message
+    popup.draw_text()
+    popup.place()
+    popup.unhide()
+    popup.draw()
+
+    if timeout:
+        try:
+            loop = asyncio.get_running_loop()
+        except RuntimeError:
+            return
+        loop.call_later(timeout / 1000, popup.kill)
diff --git a/libqtile/utils.py b/libqtile/utils.py
index 08ac252351..acd05cb625 100644
--- a/libqtile/utils.py
+++ b/libqtile/utils.py
@@ -194,9 +194,8 @@ def send_notification(title, message, urgent=False, timeout=10000, id=None):
     https://developer.gnome.org/notification-spec/
     """
     if not has_dbus:
-        logger.warning(
-            "dbus-next is not installed. Unable to send notifications."
-        )
+        from libqtile.popup import send_popup
+        send_popup(f"<b>{title}</b>\n{message}", timeout=timeout)
         return -1
 
     id = randint(10, 1000) if id is None else id
diff --git a/test/test_popup.py b/test/test_popup.py
index 4a52631b66..33039d1b03 100644
--- a/test/test_popup.py
+++ b/test/test_popup.py
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ def test_popup_focus(manager):
 
     # we have to add .conn so that Popup thinks this is libqtile.qtile
     manager.conn = xcbq.Connection(manager.display)
+    manager.current_screen = None
 
     try:
         popup = Popup(manager)