diff --git a/freqtrade/freqtradebot.py b/freqtrade/freqtradebot.py
index fb132d605..588b959d3 100644
--- a/freqtrade/freqtradebot.py
+++ b/freqtrade/freqtradebot.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ from freqtrade import (DependencyException, OperationalException,
 from freqtrade.data.converter import order_book_to_dataframe
 from freqtrade.data.dataprovider import DataProvider
 from freqtrade.edge import Edge
+from freqtrade.exchange import Exchange
 from freqtrade.persistence import Trade
 from freqtrade.rpc import RPCManager, RPCMessageType
 from freqtrade.resolvers import ExchangeResolver, StrategyResolver, PairListResolver
@@ -55,8 +56,12 @@ class FreqtradeBot(object):
 
         self.rpc: RPCManager = RPCManager(self)
 
-        exchange_name = self.config.get('exchange', {}).get('name', 'binance')
-        self.exchange = ExchangeResolver(exchange_name, self, self.config)
+        exchange_name = self.config.get('exchange', {}).get('name', 'bittrex')
+        try:
+            self.exchange = ExchangeResolver(exchange_name, self, self.config).exchange
+        except ImportError:
+            logger.info(f"No {exchange_name} specific subclass found. Using the generic class instead.")
+            self.exchange = Exchange(self.config)
 
         self.wallets = Wallets(self.exchange)
         self.dataprovider = DataProvider(self.config, self.exchange)
diff --git a/freqtrade/resolvers/exchange_resolver.py b/freqtrade/resolvers/exchange_resolver.py
index b2c301982..5d46becf5 100644
--- a/freqtrade/resolvers/exchange_resolver.py
+++ b/freqtrade/resolvers/exchange_resolver.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ class ExchangeResolver(IResolver):
         Load the custom class from config parameter
         :param config: configuration dictionary or None
         """
-        self.pairlist = self._load_exchange(exchange_name, kwargs={'freqtrade': freqtrade,
+        self.exchange = self._load_exchange(exchange_name, kwargs={'freqtrade': freqtrade,
                                                                    'config': config})
 
     def _load_exchange(