diff --git a/revid/config/config.go b/revid/config/config.go
index afa0862e..88228867 100644
--- a/revid/config/config.go
+++ b/revid/config/config.go
@@ -71,7 +71,6 @@ const (
 	// General revid defaults.
 	defaultInput           = InputRaspivid
 	defaultOutput          = OutputHTTP
-	defaultWriteRate       = 25
 	defaultTimeout         = 0
 	defaultInputCodec      = codecutil.H264
 	defaultVerbosity       = logger.Error
@@ -80,6 +79,7 @@ const (
 	defaultBurstPeriod     = 10 // Seconds
 	defaultMinFrames       = 100
 	defaultFrameRate       = 25
+	defaultWriteRate       = 25
 	defaultClipDuration    = 0
 	defaultAudioInputCodec = codecutil.ADPCM
 
@@ -335,11 +335,14 @@ func (c *Config) Validate() error {
 		return errors.New("refresh period is less than 0")
 	}
 
-	if c.FrameRate == 0 {
-		c.Logger.Log(logger.Info, pkg+"no frame rate defined, defaulting", "FrameRate", defaultFrameRate)
+	if c.FrameRate <= 0 {
+		c.Logger.Log(logger.Info, pkg+"frame rate bad or unset, defaulting", "FrameRate", defaultFrameRate)
 		c.FrameRate = defaultFrameRate
-	} else if c.FrameRate < 0 {
-		return errors.New("frame rate less than 0")
+	}
+
+	if c.WriteRate <= 0 {
+		c.Logger.Log(logger.Info, pkg+"write rate bad or unset, defaulting", "writeRate", defaultWriteRate)
+		c.WriteRate = defaultWriteRate
 	}
 
 	if c.ClipDuration == 0 {