diff --git a/pad_initiator.py b/pad_initiator.py
index d5bae851f5161e82ef21a2f33f9d766fdeae5f5d..b30ac152b910f33f3642be149d414e7700b4228d 100755
--- a/pad_initiator.py
+++ b/pad_initiator.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python3
 from typing import List, Dict, Optional, Tuple
 
-from jinja2 import Template
+from jinja2 import Template, StrictUndefined
 
 from os import environ, path, getcwd, makedirs
 from dotenv import load_dotenv
@@ -50,8 +50,12 @@ def templatePad(file_name: str, raw_data: str, links: Dict[str, str]) -> str:
         "links": links,
         "user_vars": user_vars
     }
-    template = Template(source=raw_data, keep_trailing_newline=True)
-    return template.render(variables_for_template)
+
+    try:
+        template = Template(source=raw_data, keep_trailing_newline=True, undefined=StrictUndefined)
+        return template.render(variables_for_template)
+    except Exception as e:
+        raise Exception(f"Failed to template for {file_name}.") from e
 
 
 def initPads(files: List[str],