diff --git a/disk_objectstore/backup_utils.py b/disk_objectstore/backup_utils.py
index ef51898..e5aa0a2 100644
--- a/disk_objectstore/backup_utils.py
+++ b/disk_objectstore/backup_utils.py
@@ -67,24 +67,10 @@ def __init__(
         if "rsync" not in self.exes:
             self.exes["rsync"] = "rsync"
 
-        self.validate()
+        # Validate the backup config inputs
 
-    def check_if_remote_accessible(self):
-        """Check if remote host is accessible via ssh"""
-        self.logger.info(f"Checking if '{self.remote}' is accessible...")
-        success = self.run_cmd(["exit"])[0]
-        if not success:
-            raise BackupError(f"Remote '{self.remote}' is not accessible!")
-        self.logger.info("Success! '%s' is accessible!", self.remote)
-
-    def check_path_exists(self, path: Path) -> bool:
-        cmd = ["[", "-e", str(path), "]"]
-        return self.run_cmd(cmd)[0]
-
-    def validate(self):
-        """Validate the backup config inputs"""
         if self.keep < 0:
-            raise BackupError(
+            raise ValueError(
                 "Input validation failed: keep variable can't be negative!"
             )
 
@@ -94,17 +80,27 @@ def validate(self):
         if self.exes:
             for _, path in self.exes.items():
                 if not is_exe_found(path):
-                    raise BackupError(
-                        f"Input validation failed: {path} not accessible."
-                    )
+                    raise ValueError(f"Input validation failed: {path} not accessible.")
 
         if not self.check_path_exists(self.path):
             success = self.run_cmd(["mkdir", str(self.path)])[0]
             if not success:
-                raise BackupError(
+                raise ValueError(
                     f"Input validation failed: Couldn't access/create '{str(self.path)}'!"
                 )
 
+    def check_if_remote_accessible(self):
+        """Check if remote host is accessible via ssh"""
+        self.logger.info(f"Checking if '{self.remote}' is accessible...")
+        success = self.run_cmd(["exit"])[0]
+        if not success:
+            raise BackupError(f"Remote '{self.remote}' is not accessible!")
+        self.logger.info("Success! '%s' is accessible!", self.remote)
+
+    def check_path_exists(self, path: Path) -> bool:
+        cmd = ["[", "-e", str(path), "]"]
+        return self.run_cmd(cmd)[0]
+
     def run_cmd(
         self,
         args: list,