diff --git a/.vscode/numbered-bookmarks.json b/.vscode/numbered-bookmarks.json
index fe866c3..ea7bab8 100644
--- a/.vscode/numbered-bookmarks.json
+++ b/.vscode/numbered-bookmarks.json
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 				-1,
 				19,
 				54,
-				758,
+				774,
 				68,
 				-1,
 				-1,
diff --git a/setup.sh b/setup.sh
index a9af728..1e10a56 100755
--- a/setup.sh
+++ b/setup.sh
@@ -320,7 +320,7 @@ if [ "${useSSL}" -eq 1 ] && [ "${useCertbot}" -eq 0 ]; then
                 echo -e "\n${cyan}---exiting---\n${norm}"
                 exit 1
                 ;;
-            *)
+            /*)
                 # validate path
                 if [ -f "${inputCertPath}" ]; then
                     CertPath="${inputCertPath}"
@@ -346,6 +346,10 @@ if [ "${useSSL}" -eq 1 ] && [ "${useCertbot}" -eq 0 ]; then
                     fi
                 fi
                 ;;
+            *)
+                # path must be absolute and start with a slash
+                echo -e "\n${err}Path must be absolute not relative. Please re-enter starting with '/'${norm}"
+                ;;
         esac
     done
 
@@ -360,7 +364,7 @@ if [ "${useSSL}" -eq 1 ] && [ "${useCertbot}" -eq 0 ]; then
                 echo -e "\n${cyan}---exiting---\n${norm}"
                 exit 1
                 ;;
-            *)
+            /*)
                 # validate path
                 if [ -f "${inputKeyPath}" ]; then
                     KeyPath="${inputKeyPath}"
@@ -386,6 +390,10 @@ if [ "${useSSL}" -eq 1 ] && [ "${useCertbot}" -eq 0 ]; then
                     fi
                 fi
                 ;;
+            *)
+                # path must be absolute and start with a slash
+                echo -e "\n${err}Path must be absolute not relative. Please re-enter starting with '/'${norm}"
+                ;;                
         esac
     done
 
@@ -409,7 +417,7 @@ if [ "${useSSL}" -eq 1 ] && [ "${useCertbot}" -eq 0 ]; then
                 echo -e "\n${cyan}---exiting---\n${norm}"
                 exit 1
                 ;;
-            *)
+            /*)
                 # validate path
                 if [ -f "${inputCAChainPath}" ]; then
                     CAChainPath="${inputCAChainPath}"
@@ -435,6 +443,10 @@ if [ "${useSSL}" -eq 1 ] && [ "${useCertbot}" -eq 0 ]; then
                     fi
                 fi
                 ;;
+            *)
+                # path must be absolute and start with a slash
+                echo -e "\n${err}Path must be absolute not relative. Please re-enter starting with '/'${norm}"
+                ;;
         esac
     done
 fi
@@ -488,7 +500,7 @@ while true; do
             generateDH=1
             break
             ;;
-        *)
+        /*)
             # validate path
             if [ -f "${inputDHPath}" ]; then
                 DHPath="${inputDHPath}"
@@ -514,6 +526,10 @@ while true; do
                 fi
             fi
             ;;
+        *)
+            # path must be absolute and start with a slash
+            echo -e "\n${err}Path must be absolute not relative. Please re-enter starting with '/'${norm}"
+            ;;
     esac
 done
 fi