diff --git a/check_versions/common/exception.py b/check_versions/common/exception.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..93edfff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/check_versions/common/exception.py
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+from exceptions import Exception
+
+
+class Cee8BaseExceptions(Exception):
+    pass
+
+
+class Cee8Exception(Cee8BaseExceptions):
+    def __init__(self, message, *args, **kwargs):
+        super(Cee8Exception, self).__init__(message, *args, **kwargs)
+        # get the trace
+        # TODO: get and log traceback
+
+        # prettify message
+        self.message = "CEE8Exception: {}".format(message)
+
+
+class ConfigException(Cee8Exception):
+    def __init__(self, message, *args, **kwargs):
+        super(ConfigException, self).__init__(message, *args, **kwargs)
+        self.message = "Configuration error: {}".format(message)