diff --git a/tiramisu/config.py b/tiramisu/config.py
index d9432fc..41944f7 100644
--- a/tiramisu/config.py
+++ b/tiramisu/config.py
@@ -513,7 +513,7 @@ class Config(object):
         lines.insert(0, "%s[%s]" % (indent, self._cfgimpl_descr._name,))
         return '\n'.join(lines)
 
-    def getpaths(self, include_groups=False, allpaths=False):
+    def getpaths(self, include_groups=False, allpaths=False, mandatory=False):
         """returns a list of all paths in self, recursively, taking care of 
         the context (hidden/disabled)
         """
@@ -521,11 +521,12 @@ class Config(object):
         for path in self._cfgimpl_descr.getpaths(include_groups=include_groups):
             try: 
                 value = getattr(self, path)
+            except MandatoryError:
+                if mandatory or allpaths:
+                    paths.append(path)
             except Exception, e:
-                if not allpaths:
-                    pass # hidden or disabled option
-                else:
-                    paths.append(path) # hidden or disabled option added
+                if allpaths:
+                    paths.append(path) # hidden or disabled or mandatory option added
             else:
                 paths.append(path)
         return paths 
@@ -547,11 +548,11 @@ def make_dict(config, flatten=False):
     return options
 
 def mandatory_warnings(config):
-    for path in config.getpaths():
+    mandatory = config._cfgimpl_mandatory
+    config._cfgimpl_mandatory = True
+    for path in config.getpaths(mandatory=True):
         try:
-            value = getattr(config, path)            
+            value = getattr(config, path)
         except MandatoryError:
             yield path
-        except:
-            pass
-                
+    config._cfgimpl_mandatory = mandatory