diff --git a/lms/envs/aws_migrate.py b/lms/envs/aws_migrate.py
index 6ba81f04e0..fae928868e 100644
--- a/lms/envs/aws_migrate.py
+++ b/lms/envs/aws_migrate.py
@@ -4,5 +4,9 @@ import os
 USER = os.environ.get('DB_MIGRATION_USER', 'root')
 PASSWORD = os.environ.get('DB_MIGRATION_PASS', None)
 
+if not PASSWORD:
+   raise ImproperlyConfigured("No database password was provided for running "
+                              "migrations.  This is fatal.")
+
 DATABASES['default']['USER'] = USER
 DATABASES['default']['PASSWORD'] = PASSWORD