diff --git a/freqtrade/arguments.py b/freqtrade/arguments.py
index 371b79745..04af2a6df 100644
--- a/freqtrade/arguments.py
+++ b/freqtrade/arguments.py
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ class Arguments(object):
         :return: Start and End range period
         """
         if text is None:
-            return TimeRange()
+            return TimeRange(None, None, 0, 0)
         syntax = [(r'^-(\d{8})$', (None, 'date')),
                   (r'^(\d{8})-$', ('date', None)),
                   (r'^(\d{8})-(\d{8})$', ('date', 'date')),
diff --git a/freqtrade/configuration.py b/freqtrade/configuration.py
index 2a9e8fbd8..0b484c57a 100644
--- a/freqtrade/configuration.py
+++ b/freqtrade/configuration.py
@@ -61,11 +61,9 @@ class Configuration(object):
             with open(path) as file:
                 conf = json.load(file)
         except FileNotFoundError:
-            logger.critical(
-                'Config file "%s" not found. Please create your config file',
-                path
-            )
-            exit(0)
+            raise OperationalException(
+                'Config file "{}" not found!'
+                ' Please create a config file or check whether it exists.'.format(path))
 
         if 'internals' not in conf:
             conf['internals'] = {}
diff --git a/freqtrade/exchange/__init__.py b/freqtrade/exchange/__init__.py
index 5e768518b..88c06c111 100644
--- a/freqtrade/exchange/__init__.py
+++ b/freqtrade/exchange/__init__.py
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ def get_ticker(pair: str, refresh: Optional[bool] = True) -> dict:
                     'bid': float(data['bid']),
                     'ask': float(data['ask']),
                 }
-            except KeyError as e:
+            except KeyError:
                 logger.debug("Could not cache ticker data for %s", pair)
             return data
         except (ccxt.NetworkError, ccxt.ExchangeError) as e:
diff --git a/freqtrade/optimize/__init__.py b/freqtrade/optimize/__init__.py
index 00f05cc46..fc5d53114 100644
--- a/freqtrade/optimize/__init__.py
+++ b/freqtrade/optimize/__init__.py
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ def load_data(datadir: str,
               ticker_interval: str,
               pairs: Optional[List[str]] = None,
               refresh_pairs: Optional[bool] = False,
-              timerange: TimeRange = TimeRange()) -> Dict[str, List]:
+              timerange: TimeRange = TimeRange(None, None, 0, 0)) -> Dict[str, List]:
     """
     Loads ticker history data for the given parameters
     :return: dict
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ def make_testdata_path(datadir: str) -> str:
 
 def download_pairs(datadir, pairs: List[str],
                    ticker_interval: str,
-                   timerange: TimeRange = TimeRange()) -> bool:
+                   timerange: TimeRange = TimeRange(None, None, 0, 0)) -> bool:
     """For each pairs passed in parameters, download the ticker intervals"""
     for pair in pairs:
         try:
diff --git a/freqtrade/tests/test_configuration.py b/freqtrade/tests/test_configuration.py
index 2f633c021..caaddbf25 100644
--- a/freqtrade/tests/test_configuration.py
+++ b/freqtrade/tests/test_configuration.py
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ def test_load_config_max_open_trades_zero(default_conf, mocker, caplog) -> None:
     assert log_has('Validating configuration ...', caplog.record_tuples)
 
 
-def test_load_config_file_exception(mocker, caplog) -> None:
+def test_load_config_file_exception(mocker) -> None:
     """
     Test Configuration._load_config_file() method
     """
@@ -95,12 +95,8 @@ def test_load_config_file_exception(mocker, caplog) -> None:
     )
     configuration = Configuration(Namespace())
 
-    with pytest.raises(SystemExit):
+    with pytest.raises(OperationalException, match=r'.*Config file "somefile" not found!*'):
         configuration._load_config_file('somefile')
-    assert log_has(
-        'Config file "somefile" not found. Please create your config file',
-        caplog.record_tuples
-    )
 
 
 def test_load_config(default_conf, mocker) -> None:
diff --git a/scripts/plot_profit.py b/scripts/plot_profit.py
index a5ac00169..803bf71de 100755
--- a/scripts/plot_profit.py
+++ b/scripts/plot_profit.py
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ def plot_profit(args: Namespace) -> None:
             'Impossible to load the strategy. Please check the file "user_data/strategies/%s.py"',
             config.get('strategy')
         )
-        exit(0)
+        exit(1)
 
     # Load the profits results
     try:
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ def plot_profit(args: Namespace) -> None:
         logger.critical(
             'File "backtest-result.json" not found. This script require backtesting '
             'results to run.\nPlease run a backtesting with the parameter --export.')
-        exit(0)
+        exit(1)
 
     # Take pairs from the cli otherwise switch to the pair in the config file
     if args.pair: