diff --git a/src/Microsoft.Data.SqlClient/netfx/src/Microsoft/Data/SqlClient/SqlAuthenticationProviderManager.cs b/src/Microsoft.Data.SqlClient/netfx/src/Microsoft/Data/SqlClient/SqlAuthenticationProviderManager.cs
index 9e948e391a..39434bf0f7 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.Data.SqlClient/netfx/src/Microsoft/Data/SqlClient/SqlAuthenticationProviderManager.cs
+++ b/src/Microsoft.Data.SqlClient/netfx/src/Microsoft/Data/SqlClient/SqlAuthenticationProviderManager.cs
@@ -24,14 +24,14 @@ internal class SqlAuthenticationProviderManager
         static SqlAuthenticationProviderManager()
         {
             var activeDirectoryAuthNativeProvider = new ActiveDirectoryNativeAuthenticationProvider();
-            SqlAuthenticationProviderConfigurationSection configurationSection;
+            SqlAuthenticationProviderConfigurationSection configurationSection = null;
             try
             {
                 configurationSection = (SqlAuthenticationProviderConfigurationSection)ConfigurationManager.GetSection(SqlAuthenticationProviderConfigurationSection.Name);
             }
-            catch (ConfigurationErrorsException e)
+            catch (ConfigurationErrorsException)
             {
-                throw SQL.CannotGetAuthProviderConfig(e);
+                // Don't throw an error for invalid config files
             }
             Instance = new SqlAuthenticationProviderManager(configurationSection);
             Instance.SetProvider(SqlAuthenticationMethod.ActiveDirectoryIntegrated, activeDirectoryAuthNativeProvider);
diff --git a/tools/specs/Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.nuspec b/tools/specs/Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.nuspec
index 2d103387ec..a373951608 100644
--- a/tools/specs/Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.nuspec
+++ b/tools/specs/Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.nuspec
@@ -21,6 +21,9 @@ Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.SqlTransaction
 Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.SqlParameterCollection
 Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.SqlClientFactory
 
+When running on Windows, this library has a dependency on Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.SNI, which requires the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2017 to be installed:
+https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2977003/the-latest-supported-visual-c-downloads
+
 When using NuGet 3.x this package requires at least version 3.4.</description>
     <releaseNotes>https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2090501</releaseNotes>
     <copyright>© Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.</copyright>