diff --git a/.github/workflows/update-server.yml b/.github/workflows/update-server.yml
index d9a3b30..1c84e42 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/update-server.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/update-server.yml
@@ -2,7 +2,25 @@ name: update neo with compose files
 run-name: update on ${{ github.sha }}
 on: [push]
 jobs:
-  update:
+  validate:
+    name: validate the new configuration
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      - name: install packages
+        run: |
+          apt update -y
+          apt install -y docker-compose
+      - name: validate files
+        run: |
+          DC_ARGS=""
+          for file in docker-compose.*.yml; do
+            DC_ARGS="-f $file "
+          done
+          docker-compose $DC_ARGS config -q
+  deploy:
+    name: deploy the config on the server
+    needs: [validate]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - name: setup ssh
@@ -32,4 +50,4 @@ jobs:
         run: ssh staging srvctl -fn neo mm e
       - name: send ping to ntfy
         if: always()
-        run: "curl -d '${{ job.status }}: ${{ github.sha }}\n https://git.ixvd.net/${{ github.repository }}/actions/runs/${{ github.run_number }}' https://push.ixvd.net/${{ secrets.NTFY_TOPIC }}"
\ No newline at end of file
+        run: "curl -d '${{ job.status }}: ${{ github.sha }}\n https://git.ixvd.net/${{ github.repository }}/actions/runs/${{ github.run_number }}' https://push.ixvd.net/${{ secrets.NTFY_TOPIC }}"