diff --git a/dotdrop/cfg_aggregator.py b/dotdrop/cfg_aggregator.py
index 68b076e..fdce64d 100644
--- a/dotdrop/cfg_aggregator.py
+++ b/dotdrop/cfg_aggregator.py
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ class CfgAggregator:
         self.dry = dry
         self.log = Logger(debug=self.debug)
         self._load()
+        self._validate()
 
     ########################################################
     # public methods
@@ -218,6 +219,12 @@ class CfgAggregator:
     # parsing
     ########################################################
 
+    def _validate(self):
+        """validate fields on top level view of config"""
+        val = self.settings.workdir
+        if not val:
+            raise UndefinedException('\"workdir\" is undefined')
+
     def _load(self, reloading=False):
         """load lower level config"""
         self.cfgyaml = CfgYaml(self.path,
diff --git a/dotdrop/cfg_yaml.py b/dotdrop/cfg_yaml.py
index 1058cca..c418637 100644
--- a/dotdrop/cfg_yaml.py
+++ b/dotdrop/cfg_yaml.py
@@ -1215,6 +1215,8 @@ class CfgYaml:
         if not yamldict[self.key_settings]:
             # configs empty
             return
+
+        # check settings values
         settings = yamldict[self.key_settings]
         if self.key_settings_link_dotfile_default not in settings:
             return