diff --git a/md_pdf/build/__init__.py b/md_pdf/build/__init__.py
index f160766..b5c3bd5 100644
--- a/md_pdf/build/__init__.py
+++ b/md_pdf/build/__init__.py
@@ -6,9 +6,11 @@ from md_pdf.build.pdf import export_pdf
 import os
 
 
-def build(args, config):
+def build(config):
     data = read_files(os.path.join(WORKING_DIR, '*.md'))
     doc = build_document(data, os.path.join(WORKING_DIR, 'bib.yaml'))
-    output_html(doc, os.path.join(WORKING_DIR, 'out'))
-    render_cover()
-    export_pdf(doc, os.path.join(WORKING_DIR, 'out'))
+    if 'html' in config.output_formats:
+        output_html(doc, os.path.join(WORKING_DIR, 'out'))
+    if 'pdf' in config.output_formats:
+        render_cover()
+        export_pdf(doc, os.path.join(WORKING_DIR, 'out'))
diff --git a/md_pdf/cli.py b/md_pdf/cli.py
index bf10bed..607b04f 100644
--- a/md_pdf/cli.py
+++ b/md_pdf/cli.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import logging
 from md_pdf.args import parse_args
-from md_pdf.exceptions import PrematureExit
+from md_pdf.exceptions import PrematureExit, BaseException
 from md_pdf.build import build
 from md_pdf.config.read import load_config
 from md_pdf.config.validate import validate_config
@@ -15,10 +15,10 @@ def cli():
     try:
         config = load_config()
         validate_config(config)
-        build(args, config)
+        build(config)
     except PrematureExit:
         return 0
-    except Exception as e:
+    except BaseException as e:
         logging.error(str(e))
         return 1
     return 0
diff --git a/md_pdf/config/validate.py b/md_pdf/config/validate.py
index a0d4c0f..9350e20 100644
--- a/md_pdf/config/validate.py
+++ b/md_pdf/config/validate.py
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 from md_pdf.exceptions import ConfigValidationException
+import os
 
 
 REQUIRED_KEYS = [
-    'output',
+    'output_dir',
+    'output_formats',
     'input'
 ]
 
@@ -13,7 +15,19 @@ def check_required_keys(config):
         raise ConfigValidationException("Missing required keys: {}".format(", ".join(missing_keys)))
 
 
+def test_output(config):
+    abs_output_dir = os.path.abspath(config.output_dir)
+    if not os.path.isdir(abs_output_dir):
+        raise ConfigValidationException("Can't find output directory '{}'".format(abs_output_dir))
+    if not config.output_formats:
+        raise ConfigValidationException("No output formats specified")
+    invalid_formats = [key for key in config.output_formats if key not in ['html', 'pdf']]
+    if invalid_formats:
+        raise ConfigValidationException("Invalid output formats provided: '{}'".format(", ".join(invalid_formats)))
+
+
 def validate_config(config):
     check_required_keys(config)
+    test_output(config)
 
 
diff --git a/md_pdf/exceptions.py b/md_pdf/exceptions.py
index c608b52..a11a747 100644
--- a/md_pdf/exceptions.py
+++ b/md_pdf/exceptions.py
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
-class PrematureExit(Exception):
+class BaseException(Exception):
     pass
 
 
-class ConfigValidationException(Exception):
+class PrematureExit(BaseException):
+    pass
+
+
+class ConfigValidationException(BaseException):
     pass
diff --git a/test-files/mdp.yml b/test-files/mdp.yml
index e69de29..dce2520 100644
--- a/test-files/mdp.yml
+++ b/test-files/mdp.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+input: "*.md"
+output_formats:
+  - html
+  - pdf
+output_dir: out/