diff --git a/py-i2phosts-maint b/py-i2phosts-maint
index 7836cae..566cc0e 100755
--- a/py-i2phosts-maint
+++ b/py-i2phosts-maint
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ import datetime
 import argparse
 import logging
 import configobj
-import validate
 
 # parse command line options
 parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
@@ -19,7 +18,7 @@ parser.add_argument('-c', '--config', default='/etc/py-i2phosts/maintainer.conf'
 		help='config file to use')
 args = parser.parse_args()
 
-# read and validate config
+# read config
 spec = '''
 	external_inactive_max = integer(default=365)
 	internal_inactive_max = integer(default=14)
@@ -30,19 +29,6 @@ spec = '''
 	'''
 spec = spec.split('\n')
 config = configobj.ConfigObj(args.config_file, configspec=spec)
-val = validate.Validator()
-res = config.validate(val, preserve_errors=True)
-for entry in configobj.flatten_errors(config, res):
-	# each entry is a tuple
-	section_list, key, error = entry
-	if key is not None:
-		section_list.append(key)
-	else:
-		section_list.append('[missing section]')
-	section_string = ', '.join(section_list)
-	if error == False:
-		error = 'Missing value or section.'
-	sys.stderr.write(section_string + '=' + str(error) + '\n')
 if 'include' in config:
 	config_included = configobj.ConfigObj(config['include'])
 	config.merge(config_included)
@@ -58,6 +44,10 @@ os.environ['DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE'] = DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE
 from web.postkey.models import i2phost
 from web.lib.utils import get_logger
 from web.lib.utils import check_logger_options
+from web.lib.utils import validate_config
+
+# validate config
+validate_config(config)
 
 # configure logger
 if args.debug == True: