diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index bbe9aa4..6a98591 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -5,6 +5,10 @@ Which is based on [Keep A Changelog](http://keepachangelog.com/)
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Added
+
+- use the logstash config test to validate the configuration
+
 ### Fixed
 
 - generate filter config
diff --git a/tasks/main.yml b/tasks/main.yml
index a9136a9..23d130f 100644
--- a/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/tasks/main.yml
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@
     owner: root
     group: root
     mode: 0644
+    validate: /usr/share/logstash/bin/logstash -t -f %s
   loop:
     - input
     - output