diff --git a/src/grapesjs/index.js b/src/grapesjs/index.js
index 4001c8a8b..54b2459b5 100644
--- a/src/grapesjs/index.js
+++ b/src/grapesjs/index.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
  module.exports = (config => {
-
   var c = config || {},
   defaults = require('./config/config'),
   Editor = require('editor'),
@@ -36,6 +35,11 @@
       var c = config || {};
       var els = c.container;
 
+      // Make a missing $ more verbose
+      if (typeof $ == 'undefined') {
+        throw 'jQuery not found';
+      }
+
       // Set default options
       for (var name in defaults) {
         if (!(name in c))