diff --git a/awx/sso/backends.py b/awx/sso/backends.py
index 591b3ab988..64ac84b96f 100644
--- a/awx/sso/backends.py
+++ b/awx/sso/backends.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ from django.dispatch import receiver
 from django.contrib.auth.models import User
 from django.conf import settings as django_settings
 from django.core.signals import setting_changed
+from django.core.exceptions import ImproperlyConfigured
 
 # django-auth-ldap
 from django_auth_ldap.backend import LDAPSettings as BaseLDAPSettings
@@ -75,7 +76,11 @@ class LDAPBackend(BaseLDAPBackend):
         if not feature_enabled('ldap'):
             logger.error("Unable to authenticate, license does not support LDAP authentication")
             return None
-        return super(LDAPBackend, self).authenticate(username, password)
+        try:
+            return super(LDAPBackend, self).authenticate(username, password)
+        except ImproperlyConfigured:
+            logger.error("Unable to authenticate, LDAP is improperly configured")
+            return None
 
     def get_user(self, user_id):
         if not self.settings.SERVER_URI: