diff --git a/platformio/util.py b/platformio/util.py
index 20d6214a..4d345830 100644
--- a/platformio/util.py
+++ b/platformio/util.py
@@ -162,8 +162,12 @@ def singleton(cls):
 
 
 def load_json(file_path):
-    with open(file_path, "r") as f:
-        return json.load(f)
+    try:
+        with open(file_path, "r") as f:
+            return json.load(f)
+    except ValueError:
+        raise exception.PlatformioException("Could not load broken JSON: %s" %
+                                            file_path)
 
 
 def get_systype():