diff --git a/core/server/config/overrides.json b/core/server/config/overrides.json
index 46c52ed498..53213bff28 100644
--- a/core/server/config/overrides.json
+++ b/core/server/config/overrides.json
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
         "helperTemplates": "core/server/helpers/tpl/",
         "adminViews": "core/server/web/admin/views/",
         "defaultViews": "core/server/views/",
+        "defaultSettings": "core/server/services/settings/",
         "internalAppPath": "core/server/apps/",
         "internalStoragePath": "core/server/adapters/storage/",
         "internalSchedulingPath": "core/server/adapters/scheduling/",
diff --git a/core/server/config/utils.js b/core/server/config/utils.js
index aa177dd095..3ae1712c5a 100644
--- a/core/server/config/utils.js
+++ b/core/server/config/utils.js
@@ -63,6 +63,8 @@ exports.getContentPath = function getContentPath(type) {
             return path.join(this.get('paths:contentPath'), 'logs/');
         case 'data':
             return path.join(this.get('paths:contentPath'), 'data/');
+        case 'settings':
+            return path.join(this.get('paths:contentPath'), 'settings/');
         default:
             throw new Error('getContentPath was called with: ' + type);
     }
diff --git a/core/server/services/settings/default-routes.yaml b/core/server/services/settings/default-routes.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..80efcd3c68
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/server/services/settings/default-routes.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+routes:
+
+collections:
+  /:
+    route: '{globals.permalinks}'
+    template:
+      - home
+      - index
+
+resources:
+  tag: /tag/{slug}/
+  author: /author/{slug}/
diff --git a/core/server/services/settings/ensure-settings.js b/core/server/services/settings/ensure-settings.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..840d86e099
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/server/services/settings/ensure-settings.js
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+'use strict';
+
+const fs = require('fs-extra'),
+    Promise = require('bluebird'),
+    path = require('path'),
+    debug = require('ghost-ignition').debug('services:settings:ensure-settings'),
+    common = require('../../lib/common'),
+    config = require('../../config');
+
+/**
+ * Makes sure that all supported settings files are in the
+ * `/content/settings` directory. If not, copy the default files
+ * over.
+ * @param {Array} knownSettings
+ * @returns {Promise}
+ * @description Reads the `/settings` folder of the content path and makes
+ * sure that the associated yaml file for each setting exists. If it doesn't
+ * copy the default yaml file over.
+ */
+module.exports = function ensureSettingsFiles(knownSettings) {
+    const contentPath = config.getContentPath('settings'),
+        defaultSettingsPath = config.get('paths').defaultSettings;
+
+    return Promise.each(knownSettings, function (setting) {
+        const fileName = `${setting}.yaml`,
+            defaultFileName = `default-${fileName}`,
+            filePath = path.join(contentPath, fileName);
+
+        return fs.access(filePath)
+            .catch({code: 'ENOENT'}, () => {
+                // CASE: file doesn't exist, copy it from our defaults
+                return fs.copy(
+                    path.join(defaultSettingsPath, defaultFileName),
+                    path.join(contentPath, fileName)
+                ).then(() => {
+                    debug(`'${defaultFileName}' copied to ${contentPath}.`);
+                });
+            }).catch((error) => {
+                // CASE: we might have a permission error, as we can't access the directory
+                throw new common.errors.GhostError({
+                    message: common.i18n.t('errors.services.settings.ensureSettings', {path: contentPath}),
+                    err: error,
+                    context: error.path
+                });
+            });
+    });
+};
diff --git a/core/server/services/settings/index.js b/core/server/services/settings/index.js
index e090e9a916..16bbb1f74c 100644
--- a/core/server/services/settings/index.js
+++ b/core/server/services/settings/index.js
@@ -4,10 +4,28 @@
  */
 
 var SettingsModel = require('../../models/settings').Settings,
-    SettingsCache = require('./cache');
+    SettingsCache = require('./cache'),
+    SettingsLoader = require('./loader'),
+    // EnsureSettingsFiles = require('./ensure-settings'),
+    _ = require('lodash'),
+    common = require('../../lib/common'),
+    debug = require('ghost-ignition').debug('services:settings:index');
 
 module.exports = {
     init: function init() {
+        const knownSettings = this.knownSettings();
+
+        debug('init settings service for:', knownSettings);
+
+        // TODO: uncomment this section, once we want to
+        // copy the default routes.yaml file into the /content/settings
+        // folder
+
+        // Make sure that supported settings files are available
+        // inside of the `content/setting` directory
+        // return EnsureSettingsFiles(knownSettings)
+        //     .then(() => {
+
         // Update the defaults
         return SettingsModel.populateDefaults()
             .then(function (settingsCollection) {
@@ -15,5 +33,78 @@ module.exports = {
                 // This will bind to events for further updates
                 SettingsCache.init(settingsCollection);
             });
+        // });
+    },
+
+    /**
+    * Global place to switch on more available settings.
+    */
+    knownSettings: function knownSettings() {
+        return ['routes'];
+    },
+
+    /**
+     * Getter for YAML settings.
+     * Example: `settings.get('routes').then(...)`
+     * will return an Object like this:
+     * {routes: {}, collections: {}, resources: {}}
+     * @param {String} setting type of supported setting.
+     * @returns {Promise<Object>} settingsFile
+     * @description Returns settings object as defined per YAML files in
+     * `/content/settings` directory.
+     */
+    get: function get(setting) {
+        const knownSettings = this.knownSettings();
+
+        // CASE: this should be an edge case and only if internal usage of the
+        // getter is incorrect.
+        if (!setting || _.indexOf(knownSettings, setting) < 0) {
+            return Promise.reject(new common.errors.IncorrectUsageError({
+                message: `Requested setting is not supported: '${setting}'.`,
+                help: `Please use only the supported settings: ${knownSettings}.`
+            }));
+        }
+
+        return SettingsLoader(setting)
+            .then((settingsFile) => {
+                debug('setting loaded and parsed:', settingsFile);
+
+                return settingsFile;
+            });
+    },
+
+    /**
+     * Getter for all YAML settings.
+     * Example: `settings.getAll().then(...)`
+     * will return an Object like this (assuming we're supporting `routes`
+     * and `globals`):
+     * {
+     *     routes: {
+     *         routes: null,
+     *         collections: { '/': [Object] },
+     *         resources: { tag: '/tag/{slug}/', author: '/author/{slug}/' }
+     *     },
+     *     globals: {
+     *         config: { url: 'testblog.com' }
+     *     }
+     * }
+     * @returns {Promise<Object>} settingsObject
+     * @description Returns all settings object as defined per YAML files in
+     * `/content/settings` directory.
+     */
+    getAll: function getAll() {
+        const knownSettings = this.knownSettings(),
+            props = {};
+
+        _.each(knownSettings, function (setting) {
+            props[setting] = SettingsLoader(setting);
+        });
+
+        return Promise.props(props)
+            .then((settingsFile) => {
+                debug('all settings loaded and parsed:', settingsFile);
+
+                return settingsFile;
+            });
     }
 };
diff --git a/core/server/services/settings/loader.js b/core/server/services/settings/loader.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6f421894b3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/server/services/settings/loader.js
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+'use strict';
+
+const fs = require('fs-extra'),
+    path = require('path'),
+    debug = require('ghost-ignition').debug('services:settings:settings-loader'),
+    common = require('../../lib/common'),
+    config = require('../../config'),
+    yamlParser = require('./yaml-parser');
+
+/**
+ * Reads the desired settings YAML file and passes the
+ * file to the YAML parser which then returns a JSON object.
+ * @param {String} setting the requested settings as defined in setting knownSettings
+ * @returns {Promise<Object>} settingsFile
+ */
+module.exports = function loadSettings(setting) {
+    // we only support the `yaml` file extension. `yml` will be ignored.
+    const fileName = `${setting}.yaml`;
+    const contentPath = config.getContentPath('settings');
+    const filePath = path.join(contentPath, fileName);
+
+    return fs.readFile(filePath, 'utf8')
+        .then((file) => {
+            debug('settings file found for', setting);
+
+            // yamlParser returns a JSON object
+            const parsed = yamlParser(file, fileName);
+
+            return parsed;
+        }).catch((error) => {
+            if (common.errors.utils.isIgnitionError(error)) {
+                throw error;
+            }
+
+            throw new common.errors.GhostError({
+                message: common.i18n.t('errors.services.settings.loader', {setting: setting, path: contentPath}),
+                context: filePath,
+                err: error
+            });
+        });
+};
diff --git a/core/server/services/settings/yaml-parser.js b/core/server/services/settings/yaml-parser.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ec45a46870
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/server/services/settings/yaml-parser.js
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+'use strict';
+
+const yaml = require('js-yaml'),
+    debug = require('ghost-ignition').debug('services:settings:yaml-parser'),
+    common = require('../../lib/common');
+
+/**
+ * Takes a YAML file, parses it and returns a JSON Object
+ * @param {YAML} file the YAML file utf8 encoded
+ * @param {String} fileName the name of the file incl. extension
+ * @returns {Object} parsed
+ */
+module.exports = function parseYaml(file, fileName) {
+    try {
+        const parsed = yaml.safeLoad(file);
+
+        debug('YAML settings file parsed:', fileName);
+
+        return parsed;
+    } catch (error) {
+        // CASE: parsing failed, `js-yaml` tells us exactly what and where in the
+        // `reason` property as well as in the message.
+        throw new common.errors.GhostError({
+            message: common.i18n.t('errors.services.settings.yaml.error', {file: fileName, context: error.reason}),
+            context: error.message,
+            err: error,
+            help: common.i18n.t('errors.services.settings.yaml.help', {file: fileName})
+        });
+    }
+};
diff --git a/core/server/translations/en.json b/core/server/translations/en.json
index beeb94e9c6..019e50fc66 100644
--- a/core/server/translations/en.json
+++ b/core/server/translations/en.json
@@ -467,6 +467,14 @@
                     "error": "The {service} service was unable to send a ping request, your blog will continue to function.",
                     "help": "If you get this error repeatedly, please seek help on {url}."
                 }
+            },
+            "settings": {
+                "yaml": {
+                    "error": "Could not parse {file}: {context}.",
+                    "help": "Check your {file} file for typos and fix the named issues."
+                },
+                "loader": "Error trying to load YAML setting for {setting} from '{path}'.",
+                "ensureSettings": "Error trying to access settings files in {path}."
             }
         },
         "errors": {
diff --git a/core/test/unit/services/settings/ensure-settings_spec.js b/core/test/unit/services/settings/ensure-settings_spec.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3445689cc7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/test/unit/services/settings/ensure-settings_spec.js
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+'use strict';
+
+const sinon = require('sinon'),
+    should = require('should'),
+    fs = require('fs-extra'),
+    yaml = require('js-yaml'),
+    path = require('path'),
+    configUtils = require('../../../utils/configUtils'),
+    common = require('../../../../server/lib/common'),
+
+    ensureSettings = require('../../../../server/services/settings/ensure-settings'),
+
+    sandbox = sinon.sandbox.create();
+
+describe('UNIT > Settings Service:', function () {
+    beforeEach(function () {
+        configUtils.set('paths:contentPath', path.join(__dirname, '../../../utils/fixtures/'));
+    });
+
+    afterEach(function () {
+        sandbox.restore();
+        configUtils.restore();
+    });
+
+    describe('Ensure settings files', function () {
+        it('returns yaml file from settings folder if it exists', function () {
+            const fsAccessSpy = sandbox.spy(fs, 'access');
+
+            return ensureSettings(['goodroutes', 'badroutes']).then(() => {
+                fsAccessSpy.callCount.should.be.eql(2);
+            });
+        });
+
+        it('copies default settings file if not found but does not overwrite existing files', function () {
+            const expectedDefaultSettingsPath = path.join(__dirname, '../../../../server/services/settings/default-globals.yaml');
+            const expectedContentPath = path.join(__dirname, '../../../utils/fixtures/settings/globals.yaml');
+            const fsError = new Error('not found');
+            fsError.code = 'ENOENT';
+            const fsAccessStub = sandbox.stub(fs, 'access');
+            const fsCopyStub = sandbox.stub(fs, 'copy').resolves();
+
+            fsAccessStub.onFirstCall().resolves();
+            // route file in settings directotry is not found
+            fsAccessStub.onSecondCall().rejects(fsError);
+
+            return ensureSettings(['routes', 'globals'])
+            .then(() => {
+                fsAccessStub.calledTwice.should.be.true();
+            }).then(() => {
+                fsCopyStub.calledWith(expectedDefaultSettingsPath, expectedContentPath).should.be.true();
+                fsCopyStub.calledOnce.should.be.true();
+            });
+        });
+
+        it('copies default settings file if no file found', function () {
+            const expectedDefaultSettingsPath = path.join(__dirname, '../../../../server/services/settings/default-routes.yaml');
+            const expectedContentPath = path.join(__dirname, '../../../utils/fixtures/settings/routes.yaml');
+            const fsError = new Error('not found');
+            fsError.code = 'ENOENT';
+            const fsAccessStub = sandbox.stub(fs, 'access').rejects(fsError);
+            const fsCopyStub = sandbox.stub(fs, 'copy').resolves();
+
+            return ensureSettings(['routes']).then(() => {
+                fsAccessStub.calledOnce.should.be.true();
+                fsCopyStub.calledWith(expectedDefaultSettingsPath, expectedContentPath).should.be.true();
+                fsCopyStub.calledOnce.should.be.true();
+            });
+        });
+
+        it('rejects, if error is not a not found error', function () {
+            const expectedContentPath = path.join(__dirname, '../../../utils/fixtures/settings/');
+            const fsError = new Error('no permission');
+            fsError.code = 'EPERM';
+            const fsAccessStub = sandbox.stub(fs, 'access').rejects(new Error('Oopsi!'));
+
+            return ensureSettings(['routes']).catch((error) => {
+                should.exist(error);
+                error.message.should.be.eql(`Error trying to access settings files in ${expectedContentPath}.`);
+                fsAccessStub.calledOnce.should.be.true();
+            });
+        });
+    });
+});
diff --git a/core/test/unit/services/settings/loader_spec.js b/core/test/unit/services/settings/loader_spec.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..72177de388
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/test/unit/services/settings/loader_spec.js
@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+'use strict';
+
+const sinon = require('sinon'),
+    should = require('should'),
+    rewire = require('rewire'),
+    fs = require('fs-extra'),
+    yaml = require('js-yaml'),
+    path = require('path'),
+    configUtils = require('../../../utils/configUtils'),
+    common = require('../../../../server/lib/common'),
+
+    loadSettings = rewire('../../../../server/services/settings/loader'),
+
+    sandbox = sinon.sandbox.create();
+
+describe('UNIT > Settings Service:', function () {
+    beforeEach(function () {
+        configUtils.set('paths:contentPath', path.join(__dirname, '../../../utils/fixtures/'));
+    });
+
+    afterEach(function () {
+        sandbox.restore();
+        configUtils.restore();
+    });
+
+    describe('Settings Loader', function () {
+        const yamlStubFile = {
+            routes: null,
+            collections: {
+                '/': {
+                    route: '{globals.permalinks}',
+                    template: ['home', 'index']
+                }
+            },
+            resources: {tag: '/tag/{slug}/', author: '/author/{slug}/'}
+        };
+        let yamlParserStub;
+
+        beforeEach(function () {
+            yamlParserStub = sinon.stub();
+        });
+
+        it('can find yaml settings file and returns a settings object', function () {
+            const fsReadFileSpy = sandbox.spy(fs, 'readFile');
+            const expectedSettingsFile = path.join(__dirname, '../../../utils/fixtures/settings/goodroutes.yaml');
+            yamlParserStub.returns(yamlStubFile);
+            loadSettings.__set__('yamlParser', yamlParserStub);
+
+            return loadSettings('goodroutes').then((setting) => {
+                should.exist(setting);
+                setting.should.be.an.Object().with.properties('routes', 'collections', 'resources');
+                // There are 4 files in the fixtures folder, but only 1 supported and valid yaml files
+                fsReadFileSpy.calledOnce.should.be.true();
+                fsReadFileSpy.calledWith(expectedSettingsFile).should.be.true();
+                yamlParserStub.callCount.should.be.eql(1);
+            });
+        });
+
+        it('can handle errors from YAML parser', function () {
+            yamlParserStub.rejects(new common.errors.GhostError({
+                message: 'could not parse yaml file',
+                context: 'bad indentation of a mapping entry at line 5, column 10'
+            }));
+            loadSettings.__set__('yamlParser', yamlParserStub);
+
+            return loadSettings('goodroutes').then((setting) => {
+                should.not.exist(setting);
+            }).catch((error) => {
+                should.exist(error);
+                error.message.should.be.eql('could not parse yaml file');
+                error.context.should.be.eql('bad indentation of a mapping entry at line 5, column 10');
+                yamlParserStub.calledOnce.should.be.true();
+            });
+        });
+
+        it('throws error if file can\'t be accessed', function () {
+            const expectedSettingsFile = path.join(__dirname, '../../../utils/fixtures/settings/routes.yaml');
+            const fsError = new Error('no permission');
+            fsError.code = 'EPERM';
+            const fsReadFileStub = sandbox.stub(fs, 'readFile').rejects(fsError);
+            yamlParserStub = sinon.spy();
+            loadSettings.__set__('yamlParser', yamlParserStub);
+
+            return loadSettings('routes').then((settings) => {
+                should.not.exist(settings);
+            }).catch((error) => {
+                should.exist(error);
+                error.message.should.match(/Error trying to load YAML setting for routes from/);
+                fsReadFileStub.calledWith(expectedSettingsFile).should.be.true();
+                yamlParserStub.calledOnce.should.be.false();
+            });
+        });
+    });
+});
diff --git a/core/test/unit/services/settings/settings_spec.js b/core/test/unit/services/settings/settings_spec.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..18df25e377
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/test/unit/services/settings/settings_spec.js
@@ -0,0 +1,137 @@
+'use strict';
+
+const sinon = require('sinon'),
+    should = require('should'),
+    rewire = require('rewire'),
+    common = require('../../../../server/lib/common'),
+
+    settings = rewire('../../../../server/services/settings/index'),
+
+    sandbox = sinon.sandbox.create();
+
+describe('UNIT > Settings Service:', function () {
+    afterEach(function () {
+        sandbox.restore();
+    });
+
+    describe('knownSettings', function () {
+        it('returns supported settings files', function () {
+            const files = settings.knownSettings();
+            // This test will fail when new settings are added without
+            // changing this test as well.
+            files.should.be.an.Array().with.length(1);
+        });
+    });
+
+    describe('get', function () {
+        let settingsLoaderStub;
+
+        const settingsStubFile = {
+            routes: null,
+            collections: {
+              '/': {
+                route: '{globals.permalinks}',
+                template: [ 'home', 'index' ]
+              }
+            },
+            resources: {tag: '/tag/{slug}/', author: '/author/{slug}/'}
+        };
+
+        beforeEach(function () {
+            settingsLoaderStub = sandbox.stub();
+        });
+
+        it('returns settings object for `routes`', function () {
+            settingsLoaderStub.resolves(settingsStubFile);
+            settings.__set__('SettingsLoader', settingsLoaderStub);
+
+            settings.get('routes').then((result) => {
+                should.exist(result);
+                result.should.be.an.Object().with.properties('routes', 'collections', 'resources');
+                settingsLoaderStub.calledOnce.should.be.true();
+            });
+        });
+
+        it('rejects when requested settings type is not supported', function () {
+            settingsLoaderStub.resolves(settingsStubFile);
+            settings.__set__('SettingsLoader', settingsLoaderStub);
+
+            return settings.get('something').then((result) => {
+                should.not.exist(result);
+            }).catch((error) => {
+                should.exist(error);
+                error.message.should.be.eql('Requested setting is not supported: \'something\'.');
+                settingsLoaderStub.callCount.should.be.eql(0);
+            });
+        });
+
+        it('passes SettingsLoader error through', function () {
+            settingsLoaderStub.rejects(new common.errors.GhostError({message: 'oops'}));
+            settings.__set__('SettingsLoader', settingsLoaderStub);
+
+            return settings.get('routes').then((result) => {
+                should.not.exist(result);
+            }).catch((error) => {
+                should.exist(error);
+                error.message.should.be.eql('oops');
+                settingsLoaderStub.calledOnce.should.be.true();
+            });
+        });
+    });
+
+    describe('getAll', function () {
+        let settingsLoaderStub,
+            knownSettingsStub;
+
+        const settingsStubFile1 = {
+                routes: null,
+                collections: {
+                  '/': {
+                    route: '{globals.permalinks}',
+                    template: [ 'home', 'index' ]
+                  }
+                },
+                resources: {tag: '/tag/{slug}/', author: '/author/{slug}/'}
+            },
+            settingsStubFile2 = {
+                config: {
+                    url: 'https://testblog.com'
+                }
+            };
+
+        beforeEach(function () {
+            knownSettingsStub = sandbox.stub().returns(['routes', 'globals']);
+            settings.__set__('this.knownSettings', knownSettingsStub);
+            settingsLoaderStub = sandbox.stub();
+        });
+
+        it('returns settings object for all known settings', function () {
+            settingsLoaderStub.onFirstCall().resolves(settingsStubFile1);
+            settingsLoaderStub.onSecondCall().resolves(settingsStubFile2);
+            settings.__set__('SettingsLoader', settingsLoaderStub);
+
+            return settings.getAll().then((result) => {
+                should.exist(result);
+                result.should.be.an.Object().with.properties('routes', 'globals');
+                result.routes.should.be.an.Object().with.properties('routes', 'collections', 'resources');
+                result.globals.should.be.an.Object().with.properties('config');
+
+                settingsLoaderStub.calledTwice.should.be.true();
+            });
+        });
+
+        it('passes SettinsLoader error through', function () {
+            settingsLoaderStub.onFirstCall().resolves(settingsStubFile1);
+            settingsLoaderStub.onSecondCall().rejects(new common.errors.GhostError({message: 'oops'}));
+            settings.__set__('SettingsLoader', settingsLoaderStub);
+
+            return settings.getAll().then((result) => {
+                should.not.exist(result);
+            }).catch((error) => {
+                should.exist(error);
+                error.message.should.be.eql('oops');
+                settingsLoaderStub.calledTwice.should.be.true();
+            });
+        });
+    });
+});
diff --git a/core/test/unit/services/settings/yaml-parser_spec.js b/core/test/unit/services/settings/yaml-parser_spec.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..882bc0c02b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/test/unit/services/settings/yaml-parser_spec.js
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+'use strict';
+
+const sinon = require('sinon'),
+    should = require('should'),
+    fs = require('fs-extra'),
+    yaml = require('js-yaml'),
+    path = require('path'),
+
+    yamlParser = require('../../../../server/services/settings/yaml-parser'),
+
+    sandbox = sinon.sandbox.create();
+
+describe('UNIT > Settings Service:', function () {
+    let yamlSpy;
+
+    beforeEach(function () {
+        yamlSpy = sandbox.spy(yaml, 'safeLoad');
+    });
+
+    afterEach(function () {
+        sandbox.restore();
+    });
+
+    describe('Yaml Parser', function () {
+        it('parses correct yaml file', function () {
+            const file = fs.readFileSync(path.join(__dirname, '../../../utils/fixtures/settings/', 'goodroutes.yaml'), 'utf8');
+
+            const result = yamlParser(file, 'goodroutes.yaml');
+            should.exist(result);
+            result.should.be.an.Object().with.properties('routes', 'collections', 'resources');
+            yamlSpy.calledOnce.should.be.true();
+        });
+
+        it('rejects with clear error when parsing fails', function () {
+            const file = fs.readFileSync(path.join(__dirname, '../../../utils/fixtures/settings/', 'badroutes.yaml'), 'utf8');
+
+            try {
+                const result = yamlParser(file, 'badroutes.yaml');
+                should.not.exist(result);
+            } catch (error) {
+                should.exist(error);
+                error.message.should.eql('Could not parse badroutes.yaml: bad indentation of a mapping entry.');
+                error.context.should.eql('bad indentation of a mapping entry at line 5, column 10:\n        route: \'{globals.permalinks}\'\n             ^');
+                error.help.should.eql('Check your badroutes.yaml file for typos and fix the named issues.');
+                yamlSpy.calledOnce.should.be.true();
+            }
+        });
+    });
+});
diff --git a/core/test/utils/fixtures/settings/badroutes.yaml b/core/test/utils/fixtures/settings/badroutes.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2521cabef7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/test/utils/fixtures/settings/badroutes.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+routes:
+
+collections:
+  /
+    route: '{globals.permalinks}'
+    template:
+      - home
+      - index
+
+resources:
+ tag: /tag/{slug}/
+  author: /author/{slug}/
diff --git a/core/test/utils/fixtures/settings/goodroutes.yaml b/core/test/utils/fixtures/settings/goodroutes.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..80efcd3c68
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/test/utils/fixtures/settings/goodroutes.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+routes:
+
+collections:
+  /:
+    route: '{globals.permalinks}'
+    template:
+      - home
+      - index
+
+resources:
+  tag: /tag/{slug}/
+  author: /author/{slug}/
diff --git a/core/test/utils/fixtures/settings/notyaml.md b/core/test/utils/fixtures/settings/notyaml.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e69de29bb2
diff --git a/core/test/utils/fixtures/settings/test.yml b/core/test/utils/fixtures/settings/test.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e69de29bb2
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index e38c27097d..b104520441 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@
     "image-size": "0.6.2",
     "intl": "1.2.5",
     "intl-messageformat": "1.3.0",
+    "js-yaml": "3.11.0",
     "jsonpath": "1.0.0",
     "knex": "0.14.4",
     "knex-migrator": "3.1.5",
diff --git a/yarn.lock b/yarn.lock
index c85047f214..3aab11b3cd 100644
--- a/yarn.lock
+++ b/yarn.lock
@@ -3198,7 +3198,7 @@ js-tokens@^3.0.0, js-tokens@^3.0.2:
   version "3.0.2"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/js-tokens/-/js-tokens-3.0.2.tgz#9866df395102130e38f7f996bceb65443209c25b"
 
-js-yaml@3.x, js-yaml@^3.9.1:
+js-yaml@3.11.0, js-yaml@3.x, js-yaml@^3.9.1:
   version "3.11.0"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/js-yaml/-/js-yaml-3.11.0.tgz#597c1a8bd57152f26d622ce4117851a51f5ebaef"
   dependencies: