diff --git a/validator/bondethernet.py b/validator/bondethernet.py
index 814a34a..0a03505 100644
--- a/validator/bondethernet.py
+++ b/validator/bondethernet.py
@@ -6,14 +6,15 @@ class NullHandler(logging.Handler):
         pass
 
 
-def exists(yaml, ifname):
-    """ Return True if the BondEthernet exists """
+def get_by_name(yaml, ifname):
+    """ Return the BondEthernet by name, if it exists. Return None otherwise. """
     try:
         if ifname in yaml['bondethernets']:
-            return True
+            return yaml['bondethernets'][ifname]
     except:
         pass
-    return False
+    return None
+
 
 def bondethernet(args, yaml):
     result = True
@@ -27,7 +28,7 @@ def bondethernet(args, yaml):
     for ifname, iface in yaml['bondethernets'].items():
         logger.debug("bondethernet %s: %s" % (ifname, iface))
         for member in iface['interfaces']:
-            if not interface.exists(yaml, member):
+            if not interface.get_by_name(yaml, member):
                 msgs.append("bondethernet %s member %s doesn't exist" % (ifname, member))
                 result = False
 
diff --git a/validator/interface.py b/validator/interface.py
index 992c6fb..62df7b3 100644
--- a/validator/interface.py
+++ b/validator/interface.py
@@ -5,6 +5,25 @@ class NullHandler(logging.Handler):
     def emit(self, record):
         pass
 
+def get_by_name(yaml, ifname):
+    """ Returns the interface or sub-interface by a given name, or None if it does not exist """
+    if '.' in ifname:
+        ifname, subid = ifname.split('.')
+        subid = int(subid)
+        try:
+            iface = yaml['interfaces'][ifname]['sub-interfaces'][subid]
+            return iface
+        except:
+            return None
+
+    try:
+        iface = yaml['interfaces'][ifname]
+        return iface
+    except:
+        pass
+    return None
+
+
 def has_sub(yaml, ifname):
     """ Returns True if this interface has sub-interfaces """
     if not 'interfaces' in yaml:
@@ -16,6 +35,7 @@ def has_sub(yaml, ifname):
             return True
     return False
 
+
 def has_address(yaml, ifname):
     """ Returns True if this interface or sub-interface has one or more addresses"""
     if not 'interfaces' in yaml:
@@ -38,6 +58,7 @@ def has_address(yaml, ifname):
         pass
     return False
 
+
 def is_bond_member(yaml, ifname):
     """ Returns True if this interface is a member of a BondEthernet """
     if not 'bondethernets' in yaml:
@@ -50,6 +71,7 @@ def is_bond_member(yaml, ifname):
             return True
     return False
 
+
 def has_lcp(yaml, ifname):
     """ Returns True if this interface or sub-interface has an LCP"""
     if not 'interfaces' in yaml:
@@ -72,19 +94,6 @@ def has_lcp(yaml, ifname):
         pass
     return False
 
-def exists(yaml, ifname):
-    """ Returns true if ifname exists as a phy or sub-int """
-    try:
-        if ifname in yaml['interfaces']:
-            return True
-        if '.' in ifname:
-            ifname, subid = ifname.split('.')
-            subid = int(subid)
-            if subid in yaml['interfaces'][ifname]['sub-interfaces']:
-                return True
-    except:
-        pass
-    return False
 
 def valid_encapsulation(yaml, sub_ifname):
     try:
@@ -117,7 +126,7 @@ def interface(args, yaml):
 
     for ifname, iface in yaml['interfaces'].items():
         logger.debug("interface %s" % iface)
-        if ifname.startswith("BondEthernet") and not bondethernet.exists(yaml, ifname):
+        if ifname.startswith("BondEthernet") and not bondethernet.get_by_name(yaml, ifname):
             msgs.append("interface %s does not exist in bondethernets" % ifname)
             result = False
 
diff --git a/validator/loopback.py b/validator/loopback.py
index 6cc9011..1073f96 100644
--- a/validator/loopback.py
+++ b/validator/loopback.py
@@ -4,14 +4,14 @@ class NullHandler(logging.Handler):
     def emit(self, record):
         pass
 
-def exists(yaml, ifname):
-    """ Returns true if ifname exists as a loopback """
+def get_by_name(yaml, ifname):
+    """ Return the loopback by name, if it exists. Return None otherwise. """
     try:
         if ifname in yaml['loopbacks']:
-            return True
+            return yaml['loopbacks'][ifname]
     except:
         pass
-    return False
+    return None
 
 
 def loopback(args, yaml):