diff --git a/validator/__init__.py b/validator/__init__.py
index 7d9eab6..6b3cf90 100644
--- a/validator/__init__.py
+++ b/validator/__init__.py
@@ -142,3 +142,7 @@ class Validator(object):
 
         self.logger.info("Configuration validated successfully")
         return True
+
+    def get_phys(self, yaml):
+        """ Return all PHYs in the config """
+        return interface.get_phys(yaml)
diff --git a/vpp/vppapi.py b/vpp/vppapi.py
index 3a4d1e5..896b10d 100644
--- a/vpp/vppapi.py
+++ b/vpp/vppapi.py
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ class VPPApi():
         return True
 
     def clearconfig(self):
-        return {"lcps": {}, "interfaces": {}, "interface_addresses": {}, 
+        return {"lcps": {}, "interface_names": {}, "interfaces": {}, "interface_addresses": {},
                 "bondethernets": {}, "bondethernet_members": {},
                 "bridgedomains": {}, "vxlan_tunnels": {}, "l2xcs": {}}
 
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ class VPPApi():
         r = self.vpp.api.sw_interface_dump()
         for iface in r:
             self.config['interfaces'][iface.sw_if_index] = iface
+            self.config['interface_names'][iface.interface_name] = iface
             self.config['interface_addresses'][iface.sw_if_index] = []
             self.logger.debug("Retrieving IPv4 addresses for %s" % iface.interface_name)
             ipr = self.vpp.api.ip_address_dump(sw_if_index=iface.sw_if_index, is_ipv6=False)
@@ -126,6 +127,16 @@ class VPPApi():
             encap += " exact-match"
         return encap
 
+    def phys_exist(self, ifname_list):
+        """ Return True if all interfaces in the `ifname_list` exist as physical interface names
+        in VPP. Return False otherwise."""
+        ret = True
+        for ifname in ifname_list:
+            if not ifname in self.config['interface_names']:
+                self.logger.warning("Interface %s does not exist in VPP" % ifname)
+                ret = False
+        return ret
+
     def dump(self):
         self.dump_interfaces()
         self.dump_bridgedomains()
diff --git a/vppcfg b/vppcfg
index b91beb3..622515e 100755
--- a/vppcfg
+++ b/vppcfg
@@ -57,9 +57,16 @@ def main():
         logging.error("Configuration is not valid, bailing")
         sys.exit(-2)
 
+    config_phys = validator.get_phys(cfg)
     vpp = VPPApi()
     vpp.readconfig()
+    if not vpp.phys_exist(config_phys):
+        logging.error("Not all PHYs in the config exist in VPP")
+        vpp.disconnect()
+        sys.exit(-3)
+
     vpp.dump()
+
     vpp.disconnect()
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":