diff --git a/src/datum_conf.c b/src/datum_conf.c
index b1d0513..6fa1269 100644
--- a/src/datum_conf.c
+++ b/src/datum_conf.c
@@ -348,12 +348,12 @@ int datum_read_config(const char *conffile) {
 	
 	if (roundDownToPowerOfTwo_64(datum_config.stratum_v1_vardiff_min) != datum_config.stratum_v1_vardiff_min) {
 		const int nv = roundDownToPowerOfTwo_64(datum_config.stratum_v1_vardiff_min);
-		DLOG_WARN("stratum.stratum_v1_vardiff_min MUST be a power of two. adjusting from %d to %d", datum_config.stratum_v1_vardiff_min, nv);
+		DLOG_WARN("stratum.vardiff_min MUST be a power of two. adjusting from %d to %d", datum_config.stratum_v1_vardiff_min, nv);
 		datum_config.stratum_v1_vardiff_min = nv;
 	}
 	
 	if (datum_config.stratum_v1_vardiff_min < 1) {
-		DLOG_FATAL("Stratum server stratum.stratum_v1_vardiff_min must be at least 1 (suggest at least 1024, but more likely 32768)");
+		DLOG_FATAL("Stratum server stratum.vardiff_min must be at least 1 (suggest at least 1024, but more likely 32768)");
 		return 0;
 	}
 	
@@ -362,6 +362,16 @@ int datum_read_config(const char *conffile) {
 		return 0;
 	}
 	
+	if (datum_config.stratum_v1_share_stale_seconds < 60) {
+		DLOG_FATAL("Stratum server stratum.share_stale_seconds must be at least 60 (suggest 120)");
+		return 0;
+	}
+	
+	if (datum_config.stratum_v1_share_stale_seconds > 150) {
+		DLOG_FATAL("Stratum server stratum.share_stale_seconds must not exceed 150 (suggest 120)");
+		return 0;
+	}
+	
 	if (datum_config.datum_protocol_global_timeout < (datum_config.bitcoind_work_update_seconds+5)) {
 		DLOG_FATAL("DATUM protocol global timeout must be at least the work update interval plus 5 seconds.");
 		return 0;