diff --git a/kitty/boss.py b/kitty/boss.py
index d4e1f5eba..633f50384 100644
--- a/kitty/boss.py
+++ b/kitty/boss.py
@@ -463,8 +463,11 @@ class Boss:
         set_boss(self)
         self.mappings: Mappings = Mappings(global_shortcuts, self.refresh_active_tab_bar)
         self.notification_manager: NotificationManager = NotificationManager(debug=self.args.debug_keyboard or self.args.debug_rendering)
-        if effective_config_path := store_effective_config():
+        effective_config_path, effective_config_error = store_effective_config()
+        if effective_config_path:
             self.atexit.unlink(effective_config_path)
+        if effective_config_error:
+            self.misc_config_errors.append(effective_config_error)
 
     def startup_first_child(self, os_window_id: int | None, startup_sessions: Iterable[Session] = ()) -> None:
         si = startup_sessions or create_sessions(get_options(), self.args, default_session=get_options().startup_session)
diff --git a/kitty/config.py b/kitty/config.py
index 58ea0648a..ac5b3a9bd 100644
--- a/kitty/config.py
+++ b/kitty/config.py
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ def load_config(*paths: str, overrides: Iterable[str] | None = None, accumulate_
     return opts
 
 
-def store_effective_config() -> str:
+def store_effective_config() -> tuple[str, str]:
     import os
     import stat
     import tempfile
@@ -220,9 +220,10 @@ def store_effective_config() -> str:
     except OSError as err:
         # writing the effective config is a best effort debugging aid, do not
         # let it prevent kitty from starting, for example, when the disk is full
-        log_error(f'Failed to store effective config with error: {err}')
-        path = ''
-    return path
+        msg = f'Failed to store effective config with error: {err}'
+        log_error(msg)
+        return '', msg
+    return path, ''
 
 
 class KittyCommonOpts(TypedDict):