diff --git a/pubs/config/conf.py b/pubs/config/conf.py
index 2086601..e5e2eed 100644
--- a/pubs/config/conf.py
+++ b/pubs/config/conf.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ class ConfigurationNotFound(IOError):
 
 def post_process_conf(conf):
     """Do some post processing on the configuration"""
+    check_conf(conf)
     if conf['main']['docsdir'] == 'docsdir://':
         conf['main']['docsdir'] = os.path.join(conf['main']['pubsdir'], 'doc')
     return conf
@@ -29,8 +30,6 @@ def post_process_conf(conf):
 def load_default_conf():
     """Load the default configuration"""
     default_conf = configobj.ConfigObj(configspec=configspec)
-    validator = validate.Validator()
-    default_conf.validate(validator, copy=True)
     default_conf = post_process_conf(default_conf)
     return default_conf
 
@@ -54,8 +53,8 @@ def get_confpath(verify=True):
 def check_conf(conf):
     """Type check a configuration"""
     validator = validate.Validator()
-    results   = conf.validate(validator, copy=True)
-    assert results == True, '{}'.format(results) # TODO: precise error dialog when parsing error
+    results = conf.validate(validator, copy=True)
+    assert (results is True), '{}'.format(results)  # TODO: precise error dialog when parsing error
 
 
 def load_conf(path=None):
@@ -64,8 +63,7 @@ def load_conf(path=None):
         path = get_confpath(verify=True)
     if not os.path.exists(path):
         raise ConfigurationNotFound(path)
-    with open(path, 'rb') as f:
-        conf = configobj.ConfigObj(f.readlines(), configspec=configspec)
+    conf = configobj.ConfigObj(path, configspec=configspec)
     conf.filename = path
     conf = post_process_conf(conf)
     return conf
diff --git a/pubs/pubs_cmd.py b/pubs/pubs_cmd.py
index bd956cc..da8a43e 100644
--- a/pubs/pubs_cmd.py
+++ b/pubs/pubs_cmd.py
@@ -55,7 +55,6 @@ def execute(raw_args=sys.argv):
             if update.update_check(conf, path=conf.filename):
                 # an update happened, reload conf.
                 conf = config.load_conf(path=conf_path)
-            config.check_conf(conf)
         except config.ConfigurationNotFound:
             if len(remaining_args) == 0 or remaining_args[0] == 'init':
                 conf = config.load_default_conf()