diff --git a/ceilometer/service.py b/ceilometer/service.py
index 0abfc2b70..30c89d85e 100644
--- a/ceilometer/service.py
+++ b/ceilometer/service.py
@@ -115,6 +115,6 @@ def prepare_service(argv=None):
                      default_log_levels=log_levels)
     if argv is None:
         argv = sys.argv
-    cfg.CONF(argv[1:], project='ceilometer')
+    cfg.CONF(argv[1:], project='ceilometer', validate_default_values=True)
     log.setup('ceilometer')
     messaging.setup()
diff --git a/ceilometer/tests/db.py b/ceilometer/tests/db.py
index 28329f709..3b7ef58f7 100644
--- a/ceilometer/tests/db.py
+++ b/ceilometer/tests/db.py
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ class TestBase(testscenarios.testcase.WithScenarios, test_base.BaseTestCase):
                 'Test is not applicable for %s' % engine)
 
         self.CONF = self.useFixture(fixture_config.Config()).conf
-        self.CONF([], project='ceilometer')
+        self.CONF([], project='ceilometer', validate_default_values=True)
 
         self.db_manager = self._get_driver_manager(engine)(self.db_url)
         self.useFixture(self.db_manager)