diff --git a/core/server/index.js b/core/server/index.js
index 9e9928aad8..ebab0734e1 100644
--- a/core/server/index.js
+++ b/core/server/index.js
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
 var express     = require('express'),
     hbs         = require('express-hbs'),
     compress    = require('compression'),
-    fs          = require('fs'),
     uuid        = require('node-uuid'),
     Promise     = require('bluebird'),
     i18n        = require('./i18n'),
@@ -46,49 +45,6 @@ function initDbHashAndFirstRun() {
     });
 }
 
-// Checks for the existence of the "built" javascript files from grunt concat.
-// Returns a promise that will be resolved if all files exist or rejected if
-// any are missing.
-function builtFilesExist() {
-    var deferreds = [],
-        location = config.paths.clientAssets,
-        fileNames = ['ghost.js', 'vendor.js', 'ghost.css', 'vendor.css'];
-
-    if (process.env.NODE_ENV === 'production') {
-        // Production uses `.min` files
-        fileNames = fileNames.map(function (file) {
-            return file.replace('.', '.min.');
-        });
-    }
-
-    function checkExist(fileName) {
-        var errorMessage = i18n.t('errors.index.javascriptFilesNotBuilt.error'),
-            errorHelp = i18n.t('errors.index.javascriptFilesNotBuilt.help', {link: '\nhttps://github.com/TryGhost/Ghost#getting-started'});
-
-        return new Promise(function (resolve, reject) {
-            fs.stat(fileName, function (statErr) {
-                var exists = (statErr) ? false : true,
-                    err;
-
-                if (exists) {
-                    resolve(true);
-                } else {
-                    err = new Error(errorMessage);
-
-                    err.help = errorHelp;
-                    reject(err);
-                }
-            });
-        });
-    }
-
-    fileNames.forEach(function (fileName) {
-        deferreds.push(checkExist(location + fileName));
-    });
-
-    return Promise.all(deferreds);
-}
-
 // ## Initialise Ghost
 // Sets up the express server instances, runs init on a bunch of stuff, configures views, helpers, routes and more
 // Finally it returns an instance of GhostServer
@@ -108,9 +64,6 @@ function init(options) {
     // Load our config.js file from the local file system.
     return config.load(options.config).then(function () {
         return config.checkDeprecated();
-    }).then(function () {
-        // Make sure javascript files have been built via grunt concat
-        return builtFilesExist();
     }).then(function () {
         // Initialise the models
         return models.init();
diff --git a/core/server/translations/en.json b/core/server/translations/en.json
index 8da80a8a91..d034ab1169 100644
--- a/core/server/translations/en.json
+++ b/core/server/translations/en.json
@@ -184,12 +184,6 @@
                 "help": "Please use the error code above to search for a solution."
             }
         },
-        "index": {
-            "javascriptFilesNotBuilt": {
-                "error": "Javascript files have not been built.",
-                "help": "\nPlease read the getting started instructions at: {link}"
-            }
-        },
         "mail": {
             "incompleteMessageData": {
                 "error": "Error: Incomplete message data."
diff --git a/core/server/utils/startup-check.js b/core/server/utils/startup-check.js
index 0f7fec0e3d..135c02f406 100644
--- a/core/server/utils/startup-check.js
+++ b/core/server/utils/startup-check.js
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@ var packages = require('../../../package.json'),
         DEPENDENCIES_MISSING: 233,
         CONTENT_PATH_NOT_ACCESSIBLE: 234,
         CONTENT_PATH_NOT_WRITABLE: 235,
-        SQLITE_DB_NOT_WRITABLE: 236
+        SQLITE_DB_NOT_WRITABLE: 236,
+        BUILT_FILES_DO_NOT_EXIST: 237
     };
 
 checks = {
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@ checks = {
         this.contentPath();
         this.mail();
         this.sqlite();
+        this.builtFilesExist();
     },
 
     // Make sure the node version is supported
@@ -227,6 +229,48 @@ checks = {
             console.error('\x1B[31mWARNING: Ghost is attempting to use a direct method to send email. \nIt is recommended that you explicitly configure an email service.\033[0m');
             console.error('\x1B[32mHelp and documentation can be found at http://support.ghost.org/mail.\033[0m\n');
         }
+    },
+
+    builtFilesExist: function builtFilesExist() {
+        var configFile,
+            config,
+            location,
+            fileNames = ['ghost.js', 'vendor.js', 'ghost.css', 'vendor.css'];
+
+        try {
+            configFile = require(configFilePath);
+            config = configFile[mode];
+
+            if (config.paths && config.paths.clientAssets) {
+                location = config.paths.clientAssets;
+            } else {
+                location = path.join(appRoot, '/core/built/assets/');
+            }
+        } catch (e) {
+            location = path.join(appRoot, '/core/built/assets/');
+        }
+
+        if (process.env.NODE_ENV === 'production') {
+            // Production uses `.min` files
+            fileNames = fileNames.map(function (file) {
+                return file.replace('.', '.min.');
+            });
+        }
+
+        function checkExist(fileName) {
+            try {
+                fs.statSync(fileName);
+            } catch (e) {
+                console.error('\x1B[31mERROR: Javascript files have not been built.\033[0m');
+                console.error('\n\x1B[32mPlease read the getting started instructions at:');
+                console.error('https://github.com/TryGhost/Ghost#getting-started\033[0m');
+                process.exit(exitCodes.BUILT_FILES_DO_NOT_EXIST);
+            }
+        }
+
+        fileNames.forEach(function (fileName) {
+            checkExist(location + fileName);
+        });
     }
 };