diff --git a/cmd/appstate.go b/cmd/appstate.go
index 689f88a..ee613c5 100644
--- a/cmd/appstate.go
+++ b/cmd/appstate.go
@@ -1,15 +1,20 @@
 package cmd
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
 	"os"
 
 	"github.com/rs/zerolog"
 
 	"cosmossdk.io/log"
 
+	"github.com/strangelove-ventures/noble-cctp-relayer/ethereum"
+	"github.com/strangelove-ventures/noble-cctp-relayer/noble"
 	"github.com/strangelove-ventures/noble-cctp-relayer/types"
 )
 
+const nobleChainName = "noble"
+
 // appState is the modifiable state of the application.
 type AppState struct {
 	Config *types.Config
@@ -70,18 +75,132 @@ func (a *AppState) loadConfigFile() {
 	}
 	a.Logger.Info("Successfully parsed config file", "location", a.ConfigPath)
 	a.Config = config
-	a.validateConfig()
+
+	err = a.validateConfig()
+	if err != nil {
+		a.Logger.Error("Invalid config", "err", err)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
 }
 
 // validateConfig checks the AppState Config for any invalid settings.
-func (a *AppState) validateConfig() {
+func (a *AppState) validateConfig() error {
+	// validate chains
+	for name, cfg := range a.Config.Chains {
+		// check if chain is noble
+		if name == nobleChainName {
+			// validate noble chain
+			cc := cfg.(*noble.ChainConfig)
+			err := a.validateChain(
+				name,
+				cc.ChainID,
+				"",
+				cc.RPC,
+				"",
+				cc.BroadcastRetries,
+				cc.BroadcastRetryInterval,
+				cc.MinMintAmount,
+			)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+		} else {
+
+			// validate eth based chains
+			cc := cfg.(*ethereum.ChainConfig)
+			err := a.validateChain(
+				name,
+				fmt.Sprintf("%d", cc.ChainID),
+				fmt.Sprintf("%d", cc.Domain),
+				cc.RPC,
+				cc.WS,
+				cc.BroadcastRetries,
+				cc.BroadcastRetryInterval,
+				cc.MinMintAmount,
+			)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	// ensure at least 1 enabled route
+	if len(a.Config.EnabledRoutes) == 0 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("at least one route must be enabled in the config")
+	}
+
+	// validate circle api config
+	err := a.validateCircleConfig()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	// validate processor worker count
+	if a.Config.ProcessorWorkerCount == 0 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("ProcessorWorkerCount must be greater than zero in the config")
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// validateChain ensures the chain is configured correctly
+func (a *AppState) validateChain(
+	name string,
+	chainID string,
+	domain string,
+	rpcURL string,
+	wsURL string,
+	broadcastRetries int,
+	broadcastRetryInterval int,
+	minMintAmount uint64,
+) error {
+	if name == "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("chain name must be set in the config")
+	}
+
+	if chainID == "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("chainID must be set in the config (chain: %s) (chainID: %s)", name, chainID)
+	}
+
+	// domain is hardcoded to 4 for noble chain
+	if domain == "" && name != nobleChainName {
+		return fmt.Errorf("domain must be set in the config (chain: %s) (domain: %s)", name, domain)
+	}
+
+	if rpcURL == "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("rpcURL must be set in the config (chain: %s) (rpcURL: %s)", name, rpcURL)
+	}
+
+	// we do not use a websocket for noble
+	if wsURL == "" && name != nobleChainName {
+		return fmt.Errorf("wsURL must be set in the config (chain: %s) (wsURL: %s)", name, wsURL)
+	}
+
+	if broadcastRetries <= 0 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("broadcastRetries must be greater than zero in the config (chain: %s) (broadcastRetries: %d)", name, broadcastRetries)
+	}
+
+	if broadcastRetryInterval <= 0 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("broadcastRetryInterval must be greater than zero in the config (chain: %s) (broadcastRetryInterval: %d)", name, broadcastRetryInterval)
+	}
+
+	// noble has free minting
+	if minMintAmount == 0 && name != nobleChainName {
+		return fmt.Errorf("ETH-based chains must have a minMintAmount greater than zero in the config (chain: %s) (minMintAmount: %d)", name, minMintAmount)
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// validateCircleConfig ensures the circle api is configured correctly
+func (a *AppState) validateCircleConfig() error {
 	if a.Config.Circle.AttestationBaseURL == "" {
-		a.Logger.Error("AttestationBaseUrl is required in the config")
-		os.Exit(1)
+		return fmt.Errorf("AttestationBaseUrl is required in the config")
 	}
 
 	if a.Config.Circle.FetchRetryInterval == 0 {
-		a.Logger.Error("FetchRetryInterval must be greater than zero in the config")
-		os.Exit(1)
+		return fmt.Errorf("FetchRetryInterval must be greater than zero in the config")
 	}
+
+	return nil
 }