diff --git a/application.py b/application.py
index df065e3..ebd2165 100755
--- a/application.py
+++ b/application.py
@@ -2,23 +2,10 @@
 import curses, curses.ascii, getpass, os, re, string, sets, sys, termios, time
 import traceback
 
-import buffer2, bufferlist, color, completer, keyinput, method, minibuffer
+import buffer2, bufferlist, color, completer, keyinput, method, minibuffer, mode2
 import util, window2
 from point2 import Point
 
-# modes
-import mode2
-import mode.mini, mode.search, mode.replace, mode.which
-import mode.console, mode.consolemini
-import mode.c, mode.python, mode.perl, mode.nasm, mode.sql, mode.java
-import mode.sh, mode.make
-import mode.lisp, mode.elisp, mode.scheme, mode.ocaml
-import mode.blame, mode.diff, mode.dir
-import mode.xml, mode.tt, mode.css, mode.javascript, mode.html, mode.hex
-import mode.text, mode.text2, mode.mutt
-#import mode.bds
-import mode.rst
-
 def run(buffers, jump_to_line=None, init_mode=None):
     # save terminal state so we can restore it when the program exits
     attr = termios.tcgetattr(sys.stdin)
@@ -93,39 +80,14 @@ class Application(object):
         self.mode_extensions = {}
         self.mode_detection  = {}
 
-        #mode2.Fundamental.install(self)
+        # ok, now let's load all the "standard" modes
         mode2.install(self)
-        mode.blame.install(self)
-        mode.c.install(self)
-        mode.console.install(self)
-        mode.consolemini.install(self)
-        mode.css.install(self)
-        mode.diff.install(self)
-        mode.dir.install(self)
-        mode.elisp.install(self)
-        mode.hex.install(self)
-        mode.html.install(self)
-        mode.java.install(self)
-        mode.javascript.install(self)
-        mode.lisp.install(self)
-        mode.make.install(self)
-        mode.mini.install(self)
-        mode.mutt.install(self)
-        mode.nasm.install(self)
-        mode.ocaml.install(self)
-        mode.perl.install(self)
-        mode.python.install(self)
-        mode.replace.install(self)
-        mode.rst.install(self)
-        mode.scheme.install(self)
-        mode.search.install(self)
-        mode.sh.install(self)
-        mode.sql.install(self)
-        mode.tt.install(self)
-        mode.text.install(self)
-        mode.text2.Text2.install(self)
-        mode.which.install(self)
-        mode.xml.install(self)
+        for name in ('blame', 'c', 'console', 'consolemini', 'css', 'diff',
+                     'dir', 'elisp', 'hex', 'html', 'java', 'javascript',
+                     'lisp', 'make', 'mini', 'mutt', 'nasm', 'ocaml', 'perl',
+                     'python', 'replace', 'rst', 'scheme', 'search', 'sh',
+                     'sql', 'tt', 'text', 'text2', 'which', 'xml'):
+            exec("import mode.%s; mode.%s.install(self)" % (name, name))
 
         # initialize our methods
         self.methods = {}
@@ -153,6 +115,9 @@ class Application(object):
         # note that the first buffer in buffers will be initially visible
         buffers.append(buffer2.ScratchBuffer())
         buffers.append(buffer2.ConsoleBuffer())
+        if self.rcerror:
+            buffers.insert(0, buffer2.DataBuffer('*RcError*', self.rcerror))
+
         self.bufferlist = bufferlist.BufferList(height, width)
         self.active_slot = 0
 
@@ -197,6 +162,8 @@ class Application(object):
         curses.noecho()
         curses.nonl()
 
+    # this sets up a mode, as well as optionally adding information on when to
+    # auto-load the mode
     def setmode(self, name, cls, paths=[], basenames=[], extensions=[], detection=[]):
         self.modes[name] = cls
         for p in paths:
@@ -439,10 +406,6 @@ class Application(object):
     def eval(self, s):
         return eval(s)
 
-    #
-    def loadmode(self, name, path):
-        pass
-
     # load user configuration NOW
     def loadrc(self):
         path = os.path.join(os.getenv('HOME'), '.pmc', 'conf')
@@ -450,7 +413,8 @@ class Application(object):
             try:
                 execfile(path)
             except Exception, e:
-                self.rcerror = e
+                s = traceback.format_exc()
+                self.rcerror = 'There was an error during startup:\n\n%s' % s
         
     # the mighty run-loop!
     def run(self):