diff --git a/package/yast2-snapper.changes b/package/yast2-snapper.changes
index 26e28f8..b806ab9 100644
--- a/package/yast2-snapper.changes
+++ b/package/yast2-snapper.changes
@@ -1,3 +1,10 @@
+-------------------------------------------------------------------
+Tue May 06 16:23:35 CEST 2014 - aschnell@suse.de
+
+- improved error message on systems with no snapper configs
+  (bnc#876535)
+- 3.1.2
+
 -------------------------------------------------------------------
 Wed Nov 06 09:54:33 CET 2013 - aschnell@suse.de
 
diff --git a/package/yast2-snapper.spec b/package/yast2-snapper.spec
index 537f148..df2a94d 100644
--- a/package/yast2-snapper.spec
+++ b/package/yast2-snapper.spec
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 
 
 Name:           yast2-snapper
-Version:        3.1.1
+Version:        3.1.2
 Release:        0
 Group:		System/YaST
 
diff --git a/src/modules/Snapper.rb b/src/modules/Snapper.rb
index 784f6ac..75d1c88 100644
--- a/src/modules/Snapper.rb
+++ b/src/modules/Snapper.rb
@@ -53,9 +53,10 @@ def main
       @selected_snapshot_index = 0
 
       # list of configurations
-      @configs = ["root"]
+      @configs = []
+
+      @current_config = ""
 
-      @current_config = "root"
     end
 
     # Return map of files modified between given snapshots
@@ -196,6 +197,7 @@ def ReadSnapshots
       true
     end
 
+
     def LastSnapperErrorMap
       Convert.to_map(SCR.Read(path(".snapper.error")))
     end
@@ -207,18 +209,19 @@ def ReadConfigs
         :from => "any",
         :to   => "list <string>"
       )
-      if @configs == nil
-        # error popup
-        Report.Error(_("File /etc/sysconfig/snapper is not available."))
-        @configs = ["root"]
+
+      if @configs == nil || @configs.empty?
+        return false
       end
-      if !Builtins.contains(@configs, "root") &&
-          Ops.greater_than(Builtins.size(@configs), 0)
-        @current_config = Ops.get(@configs, 0, "root")
+
+      if @configs.include?("root")
+        @current_config = "root"
+      else
+        @current_config = @configs[0]
       end
-      deep_copy(@configs)
-    end
 
+      return true
+    end
 
 
     # Initialize snapper agent
@@ -246,9 +249,10 @@ def InitializeSnapper(config)
           )
         )
       end
-      init
+      return init
     end
 
+
     # Delete existing snapshot
     # Return true on success
     def DeleteSnapshot(args)
@@ -343,7 +347,13 @@ def Read
 
       Progress.NextStage
 
-      ReadConfigs()
+      if !ReadConfigs()
+        # error popup
+        Report.Error(_("No snapper configurations exist. You have to create one or more
+configurations to use yast2-snapper. The snapper command line
+tool can be used to create configurations."))
+        return false
+      end
 
       return false if !InitializeSnapper(@current_config)
 
@@ -493,7 +503,7 @@ def RestoreFiles(snapshot_num, files)
     publish :function => :GetFileModification, :type => "map (string, integer, integer)"
     publish :function => :ReadSnapshots, :type => "boolean ()"
     publish :function => :LastSnapperErrorMap, :type => "map ()"
-    publish :function => :ReadConfigs, :type => "list <string> ()"
+    publish :function => :ReadConfigs, :type => "boolean ()"
     publish :function => :InitializeSnapper, :type => "boolean (string)"
     publish :function => :DeleteSnapshot, :type => "boolean (map)"
     publish :function => :ModifySnapshot, :type => "boolean (map)"
diff --git a/testsuite/tests/ReadConfigs.out b/testsuite/tests/ReadConfigs.out
index 4d03d8d..9dfe1e8 100644
--- a/testsuite/tests/ReadConfigs.out
+++ b/testsuite/tests/ReadConfigs.out
@@ -1,13 +1,12 @@
 Read	.snapper.configs []
-Return	[]
-Return	root
+Return	false
+Return	
 Read	.snapper.configs nil
-Log	File /etc/sysconfig/snapper is not available.
-Return	["root"]
-Return	root
+Return	false
+Return	
 Read	.snapper.configs ["opt", "var", "root"]
-Return	["opt", "var", "root"]
+Return	true
 Return	root
 Read	.snapper.configs ["opt", "var"]
-Return	["opt", "var"]
+Return	true
 Return	opt