diff --git a/src/main/java/com/tidesdb/Config.java b/src/main/java/com/tidesdb/Config.java
index 18bd6fa..77843b8 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/tidesdb/Config.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/tidesdb/Config.java
@@ -130,7 +130,32 @@ public Builder maxOpenSSTables(long maxOpenSSTables) {
         }
         
         public Config build() {
+            validate();
             return new Config(this);
         }
+
+        private void validate() throws IllegalArgumentException {
+            if (dbPath == null) {
+                throw new IllegalArgumentException("Database path cannot be null");
+            }
+            if (dbPath.isEmpty()) {
+                dbPath = "";
+            }
+            if (numFlushThreads <= 0) {
+                throw new IllegalArgumentException("Number of flush threads must be positive");
+            }
+            if (numCompactionThreads <= 0) {
+                throw new IllegalArgumentException("Number of compaction threads must be positive");
+            }
+            if (logLevel == null) {
+                throw new IllegalArgumentException("Log level cannot be null");
+            }
+            if (blockCacheSize < 0) {
+                throw new IllegalArgumentException("Block cache size cannot be negative");
+            }
+            if (maxOpenSSTables <= 0) {
+                throw new IllegalArgumentException("Max open SSTables must be positive");
+            }
+        }
     }
 }