diff --git a/borghelper.sh b/borghelper.sh
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index d9acb9a..6058602
--- a/borghelper.sh
+++ b/borghelper.sh
@@ -154,4 +154,38 @@ case "${varsFile}" in
         ;;
 esac
 
+# verify borg base directory
+if [ -z "${borgBaseDir}" ]; then
+    consoleError 2 "$varsFile: 'borgBaseDir' is not specified."
+elif [ ! -d "${borgBaseDir}" ]; then
+    consoleError 2 "$varsFile: 'borgBaseDir' does not exist."
+fi
+export BORG_BASE_DIR="${borgBaseDir%/}"
+
+## check path to SSH keyfile
+if [ -z "${sshKeyFile}" ]; then
+    consoleError 2 "$varsFile: 'sshKeyFile' is not specified."
+elif [ ! -f "${sshKeyFile}" ]; then
+    consoleError 2 "$varsFile: 'sshKeyFile' does not exist."
+fi
+export BORG_RSH="ssh -i ${sshKeyFile}"
+
+# check borg repo connect string
+if [ -z "${borgRepo}" ]; then
+    consoleError 2 "$varsFile: 'borgRepo' is not specified."
+fi
+export BORG_REPO="${borgRepo}"
+
+# check borg repo password
+if [ -n "${borgRepoPassword}" ]; then
+    export BORG_PASSPHRASE="${borgRepoPassword}"
+elif [ "${borgRepoPassword}" = '<none>' ]; then
+    export BORG_PASSPHRASE=""
+else
+    consoleError 2 "$varsFile: 'borgRepoPassword' must be specified or must be '<none>' if no password has been set (VERY INSECURE!)."
+fi
+
+# export borg remote path, if specified
+if [ -n "${borgRemote}" ]; then export BORG_REMOTE_PATH="${borgRemote}"; fi
+