diff --git a/homeassistant/components/recorder/__init__.py b/homeassistant/components/recorder/__init__.py
index c60b95d1cae..907ae8ba51b 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/recorder/__init__.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/recorder/__init__.py
@@ -153,8 +153,8 @@ class Recorder(threading.Thread):
 
     def run(self):
         """Start processing events to save."""
-        from sqlalchemy.exc import SQLAlchemyError
         from .models import States, Events
+        from homeassistant.components import persistent_notification
 
         while True:
             try:
@@ -163,10 +163,15 @@ class Recorder(threading.Thread):
                 self._setup_run()
                 self.hass.loop.call_soon_threadsafe(self.async_db_ready.set)
                 break
-            except SQLAlchemyError as err:
+            except Exception as err:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
                 _LOGGER.error("Error during connection setup: %s (retrying "
                               "in %s seconds)", err, CONNECT_RETRY_WAIT)
                 time.sleep(CONNECT_RETRY_WAIT)
+                retry = locals().setdefault('retry', 10) - 1
+                if retry == 0:
+                    msg = "The recorder could not start, please check the log"
+                    persistent_notification.create(self.hass, msg, 'Recorder')
+                    return
 
         purge_task = object()
         shutdown_task = object()
diff --git a/tests/components/recorder/test_init.py b/tests/components/recorder/test_init.py
index 0724313dcea..c43caefb67c 100644
--- a/tests/components/recorder/test_init.py
+++ b/tests/components/recorder/test_init.py
@@ -1,14 +1,17 @@
 """The tests for the Recorder component."""
 # pylint: disable=protected-access
 import unittest
+from unittest.mock import patch
 
 import pytest
 
 from homeassistant.core import callback
 from homeassistant.const import MATCH_ALL
+from homeassistant.components.recorder import Recorder
 from homeassistant.components.recorder.const import DATA_INSTANCE
 from homeassistant.components.recorder.util import session_scope
 from homeassistant.components.recorder.models import States, Events
+
 from tests.common import get_test_home_assistant, init_recorder_component
 
 
@@ -163,3 +166,18 @@ def test_saving_state_include_domain_exclude_entity(hass_recorder):
     assert len(states) == 1
     assert hass.states.get('test.ok') == states[0]
     assert hass.states.get('test.ok').state == 'state2'
+
+
+def test_recorder_setup_failure():
+    """Test some exceptions."""
+    hass = get_test_home_assistant()
+
+    with patch.object(Recorder, '_setup_connection') as setup, \
+            patch('homeassistant.components.recorder.time.sleep'):
+        setup.side_effect = ImportError("driver not found")
+        rec = Recorder(
+            hass, purge_days=0, uri='sqlite://', include={}, exclude={})
+        rec.start()
+        rec.join()
+
+    hass.stop()