diff --git a/cmd/birthdaybot/main.go b/cmd/birthdaybot/main.go
index 9b6e35e..4d7056d 100644
--- a/cmd/birthdaybot/main.go
+++ b/cmd/birthdaybot/main.go
@@ -21,6 +21,11 @@ func main() {
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
 
+	if err := config.IsValid(); err != nil {
+		log.Error("invalid config", "configPath", *configFlag, "error", err)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+
 	srv, err := server.New(config)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Error("error creating server", "error", err)
diff --git a/model/config.go b/model/config.go
index c15434f..b43191b 100644
--- a/model/config.go
+++ b/model/config.go
@@ -7,7 +7,18 @@ import (
 )
 
 type Config struct {
-	BirthdayFile string `yaml:"birthday_file"`
+	BirthdayFile          string                       `yaml:"birthday_file"`
+	TelegramNotifications *TelegramNotificationsConfig `yaml:"telegram_notifications"`
+}
+
+type TelegramNotificationsConfig struct {
+	BotToken  string `yaml:"bot_token"`
+	ChannelID string `yaml:"channel_id"`
+}
+
+// ToDo: to be implemented
+func (c *Config) IsValid() error {
+	return nil
 }
 
 func ReadConfig(path string) (*Config, error) {