diff --git a/backup_new.sh b/backup_new.sh
index 31825fa..8fe0d7c 100755
--- a/backup_new.sh
+++ b/backup_new.sh
@@ -381,6 +381,22 @@ printf "${cyan}[%s] -- [INFO] ${yellow}%s${cyan} imported --${norm}\n" \
 
 
 ### dump sql databases
+
+## verify SQL variables are defined in details file
+# sqlServer
+if [ -z "${sqlServer}" ]; then
+    badDetails empty 'sqlServer'
+fi
+# sqlUser
+if [ -z "${sqlUser}" ]; then
+    badDetails empty 'sqlUser'
+fi
+# sqlPass
+if [ -z "${sqlPass}" ]; then
+    badDetails empty 'sqlPass'
+fi
+
+## create tmp directory and generate dumpfile names
 printf "${cyan}[%s] -- [INFO] Dumping SQL databases --${norm}\n" \
     "$(stamp)" >> "$logFile"
 # create temporary directory to dump files before borg backup
@@ -396,6 +412,7 @@ printf "\n${yellow}%s/${cyan} --${norm}\n" "$sqlDumpDir" >> "$logFile"
 sqlDump_ccnet="backup-$(date +%Y%m%d_%H%M%S)_${ccnetDB_name}.sql"
 sqlDump_seafile="backup-$(date +%Y%m%d_%H%M%S)_${seafileDB_name}.sql"
 sqlDump_seahub="backup-$(date +%Y%m%d_%H%M%S)_${seahubDB_name}.sql"
+
 ## dump databases
 # dump CCNET-DB
 if ! mysqldump -h"${sqlServer}" -u"${sqlUser}" -p"${sqlPass}" \