diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 096bb37..e6dd69d 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -43,6 +43,25 @@ impl ThreadJob<'_> {
     }
 }
 
+fn verify_directory(dir: &String) -> bool {
+    let md = match std::fs::metadata(&dir) {
+        Err(why) => {
+            println!("Cannot stat directory '{}': {}", dir, why);
+            return false;
+        },
+        Ok(val) => val,
+    };
+    if !md.is_dir() {
+        println!("Output directory '{}' is not a directory", dir);
+        return false;
+    }
+    if md.permissions().readonly() {
+        println!("Output directory '{}' is read-only", dir);
+        return false;
+    }
+    return true;
+}
+
 fn main() {
     let mut conf = Conf::get_default_conf();
     conf.update_from_file("/etc/haunter/haunter.conf");
@@ -57,6 +76,15 @@ fn main() {
         }
     }
 
+    if !verify_directory(&conf.output_dir) {
+        println!("Output directory unusable, aborting");
+        std::process::exit(1);
+    }
+    if !verify_directory(&conf.job_dir) {
+        println!("Output job unusable, aborting");
+        std::process::exit(1);
+    }
+
     let mut jobs = Vec::new();
     let some_job = Job {
         url: "https://www.rust-lang.org",
@@ -156,3 +184,44 @@ fn get_source(driver: &str, url: &str) -> Result<String, &'static str> {
     driver.quit().expect("failed to close session");
     return Ok(source);
 }
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    use std::str::FromStr;
+
+    use tempfile;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn verify_directory_exists_but_is_file() {
+        let mut tf = tempfile::NamedTempFile::new().unwrap();
+        let dir = String::from_str(tf.path().to_str().unwrap()).unwrap();
+        assert!(!verify_directory(&dir));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn verify_directory_does_not_exist() {
+        assert!(!verify_directory(&String::from_str("/fake/path/that/does/not/exist").unwrap()));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn verify_directory_exists() {
+        let mut tf = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        assert!(verify_directory(&String::from_str(tf.path().to_str().unwrap()).unwrap()));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn verify_directory_exists_but_is_not_writable() {
+        let mut tf = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        let md = std::fs::metadata(&tf.path()).unwrap();
+        let mut perms = md.permissions();
+        perms.set_readonly(true);
+        std::fs::set_permissions(&tf.path(), perms);
+        let result = verify_directory(&String::from_str(tf.path().to_str().unwrap()).unwrap());
+        perms = md.permissions();
+        perms.set_readonly(false);
+        std::fs::set_permissions(&tf.path(), perms);
+        assert!(!result);
+    }
+}