diff --git a/cmd/root.go b/cmd/root.go
index d50dd05b4..a34e8b0c7 100644
--- a/cmd/root.go
+++ b/cmd/root.go
@@ -109,6 +109,11 @@ func setAllConfig(v *viper.Viper, flags *pflag.FlagSet, envPrefix string) error
 	v.AutomaticEnv()
 
 	c := v.GetString("config")
+	var flagErr error
+	validTags := make(map[string]bool)
+	flags.VisitAll(func(f *pflag.Flag) {
+		validTags[f.Name] = true
+	})
 
 	// add config file to viper
 	if c != "" {
@@ -118,10 +123,16 @@ func setAllConfig(v *viper.Viper, flags *pflag.FlagSet, envPrefix string) error
 		if err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("error reading configuration file '%s': %v", c, err)
 		}
+
+		for _, key := range v.AllKeys() {
+			if _, ok := validTags[key]; !ok {
+				return fmt.Errorf("invalid option in configuration file: %v", key)
+			}
+		}
+
 	}
 
 	// set all values from viper
-	var flagErr error
 	flags.VisitAll(func(f *pflag.Flag) {
 		if flagErr != nil {
 			return
diff --git a/cmd/root_test.go b/cmd/root_test.go
index 16bc82a8a..e1aaaf31d 100644
--- a/cmd/root_test.go
+++ b/cmd/root_test.go
@@ -171,3 +171,27 @@ func TestRootCommand(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("Expected standard usage message from RootCommand, but err: '%v', output: '%s'", err, outStr)
 	}
 }
+
+func TestRootCommand_Config(t *testing.T) {
+	file, err := ioutil.TempFile("", "test.conf")
+	if err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
+	config := `data-dir = "/tmp/pil5_0"
+bind = "127.0.0.1:10101"
+
+[cluster]
+  poll-interval = "2m0s"
+  replicas = 2
+  partitions = 128
+  hosts = [
+    "127.0.0.1:10101",
+    "127.0.0.1:10111",
+  ]`
+	file.Write([]byte(config))
+	file.Close()
+	_, err = ExecNewRootCommand(t, "server", "--config", file.Name())
+	if err.Error() != "invalid option in configuration file: cluster.partitions" {
+		t.Fatalf("Expected invalid option in configuration file, but err: '%v'", err)
+	}
+}