diff --git a/vault-vlt/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/vault/vlt/FileList.java b/vault-vlt/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/vault/vlt/FileList.java
index 536ddad..40308d0 100644
--- a/vault-vlt/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/vault/vlt/FileList.java
+++ b/vault-vlt/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/vault/vlt/FileList.java
@@ -51,6 +51,10 @@ public class FileList {
     public FileList(VltDirectory dir, VltEntries entries) throws VltException {
         this.dir = dir;
         this.entries = entries;
+        if ( dir.getContext().getMetaInf() == null ) {
+            throw new VltException("No settings found. Make sure you are inside the jcr_root "
+                    + "directory and that META-INF/vault/settings.xml exists.");
+        }
         globalIgnores = new HashSet<String>(
                 dir.getContext().getMetaInf().getSettings().getIgnoredNames());
         globalIgnores.add(Ignored.FILE_NAME);