diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index b8ba736..15a3fe7 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -58,6 +58,14 @@ func main() {
 		log.Fatalf("⚠ Failed to load config %q: %v.", configFile, err)
 	}
 
+	// validate config unless in export mode, where an incomplete
+	// configuration is allowed and even expected
+	if !exportMode {
+		if err := cfg.Validate(); err != nil {
+			log.Fatalf("Configuration is invalid: %v", err)
+		}
+	}
+
 	if validate {
 		log.Println("✓ Configuration is valid.")
 		return
diff --git a/pkg/config/config.go b/pkg/config/config.go
index da2fca5..32e593d 100644
--- a/pkg/config/config.go
+++ b/pkg/config/config.go
@@ -61,10 +61,6 @@ func LoadFromFile(filename string) (*Config, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	if err := config.Validate(); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
 	return config, nil
 }