diff --git a/install.py b/install.py
index 627be47..94a2449 100755
--- a/install.py
+++ b/install.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ class Installer:
         update: bool = False,
         hide_commands: bool = False,
     ):
+        self.verify_secrets()
         yaml = YAML(typ="safe")
         self.conf = yaml.load(Path("configs.yml").text())
         self.base_dir = Path.getcwd()
@@ -35,6 +36,18 @@ class Installer:
         self.hide_commands = hide_commands
         self.operating_system = self.define_os()
 
+    def verify_secrets(self) -> None:
+        """The repository contains a secrets.template, that must be taken care of
+        by the user. If the secrets is wrong, fail.
+        """
+
+        try:
+            with open("secrets", "r") as secrets_file:
+                secrets = secrets_file.read()
+                # TODO: check the contents too
+        except FileNotFoundError:
+            raise AssertionError("Did you forget to create a 'secrets' file?")
+
     def define_os(self) -> str:
         """Define what OS we are using."""