diff --git a/client/configreader.py b/client/configreader.py
index 9028df48..243c843c 100644
--- a/client/configreader.py
+++ b/client/configreader.py
@@ -46,15 +46,15 @@ class ConfigReader(SafeConfigParserWithIncludes):
 	def setBaseDir(self, basedir):
 		if basedir is None:
 			basedir = ConfigReader.DEFAULT_BASEDIR	# stock system location
-		if not (os.path.exists(basedir) and os.access(basedir, os.R_OK | os.X_OK)):
-			raise ValueError("Base configuration directory %s either does not exist "
-							 "or is not accessible" % basedir)
 		self._basedir = basedir.rstrip('/')
 	
 	def getBaseDir(self):
 		return self._basedir
 	
 	def read(self, filename):
+		if not (os.path.exists(self._basedir) and os.access(self._basedir, os.R_OK | os.X_OK)):
+			raise ValueError("Base configuration directory %s either does not exist "
+							 "or is not accessible" % self._basedir)
 		basename = os.path.join(self._basedir, filename)
 		logSys.debug("Reading configs for %s under %s "  % (basename, self._basedir))
 		config_files = [ basename + ".conf",
diff --git a/testcases/clientreadertestcase.py b/testcases/clientreadertestcase.py
index 3e606785..fad16f04 100644
--- a/testcases/clientreadertestcase.py
+++ b/testcases/clientreadertestcase.py
@@ -114,7 +114,8 @@ class JailsReaderTest(unittest.TestCase):
 
 	def testProvidingBadBasedir(self):
 		if not os.path.exists('/XXX'):
-			self.assertRaises(ValueError, JailsReader, basedir='/XXX')
+			reader = JailsReader(basedir='/XXX')
+			self.assertRaises(ValueError, reader.read)
 
 	def testReadStockJailConf(self):
 		jails = JailsReader(basedir='config') # we are running tests from root project dir atm