diff --git a/tools/build_api.py b/tools/build_api.py
index fe0b4c0e8b..ba89cfa578 100644
--- a/tools/build_api.py
+++ b/tools/build_api.py
@@ -145,6 +145,8 @@ def get_config(src_paths, target, toolchain_name):
 
         prev_features = features
     toolchain.config.validate_config()
+    if toolchain.config.has_regions:
+        _ = list(toolchain.config.regions)
 
     cfg, macros = toolchain.config.get_config_data()
     features = toolchain.config.get_features()
diff --git a/tools/config/__init__.py b/tools/config/__init__.py
index fd4a2d3d86..aaa5344f4d 100644
--- a/tools/config/__init__.py
+++ b/tools/config/__init__.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ limitations under the License.
 
 from copy import deepcopy
 import os
-from os.path import dirname, abspath
+from os.path import dirname, abspath, exists
 import sys
 from collections import namedtuple
 from os.path import splitext
@@ -506,6 +506,8 @@ class Config(object):
                                   "build a bootloader project")
         if 'target.bootloader_img' in target_overrides:
             filename = target_overrides['target.bootloader_img']
+            if not exists(filename):
+                raise ConfigException("Bootloader %s not found" % filename)
             part = intelhex_offset(filename, offset=rom_start)
             if part.minaddr() != rom_start:
                 raise ConfigException("bootloader executable does not "