diff --git a/src/common/pg_impl.py b/src/common/pg_impl.py
index 2bc1211..42d0cf1 100644
--- a/src/common/pg_impl.py
+++ b/src/common/pg_impl.py
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ def __del__(self):
 
     def get_environment_type_names(self):
         """
-        gets the test types
+        gets the test environment types
 
         :return:
         """
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ def get_test_names(self):
 
     def get_dbms_image_names(self):
         """
-        gets the DBMS types
+        gets the DBMS image names
 
         :return:
         """
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ def get_dbms_image_names(self):
 
     def get_os_image_names(self):
         """
-        gets the test types
+        gets the os image names
 
         :return:
         """
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ def get_os_image_names(self):
 
     def get_test_request_names(self):
         """
-        gets the test types
+        gets the irods test request names
 
         :return:
         """
@@ -125,6 +125,22 @@ def get_test_request_names(self):
         # return the data
         return ret_val
 
+    def get_test_request_name_exists(self, request_name):
+        """
+        gets true/false if the request name already exists
+
+        :return:
+        """
+
+        # create the sql
+        sql: str = f"SELECT public.get_test_request_name_exists('{request_name}');"
+
+        # get the data
+        ret_val = self.exec_sql('irods-sv', sql)
+
+        # return the data
+        return ret_val
+
     def get_run_status(self, request_group):
         """
         gets the run status
diff --git a/src/common/utils.py b/src/common/utils.py
index b20e469..8491f8e 100644
--- a/src/common/utils.py
+++ b/src/common/utils.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 from pathlib import Path
 from enum import Enum
 from src.common.logger import LoggingUtil
+from src.common.pg_impl import PGImplementation
 
 
 class GenUtils:
@@ -45,7 +46,7 @@ def get_log_file_list(filter_param: str = ''):
         # get the log file path
         log_file_path: str = LoggingUtil.get_log_path()
 
-        # if a filter param was declared make it a wildcard
+        # if a filter param was declared, make it a wildcard
         if filter_param:
             filter_param += '*'
 
@@ -60,7 +61,7 @@ def get_log_file_list(filter_param: str = ''):
             # save the absolute file path, endpoint URL, and file size in a dict
             ret_val.update({f"{file_path.name}_{counter}": {'file_path': final_path[1:], 'file_size': f'{file_path.stat().st_size} bytes'}})
 
-        # if nothing was found return a message
+        # if nothing was found, return a message
         if len(ret_val) == 0 and filter_param:
             ret_val = {'Warning': f'Nothing found using your filter parameter ({filter_param[:-1]})'}
 
@@ -79,6 +80,42 @@ def check_freeze_status() -> bool:
         # return to the caller
         return freeze_mode
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def validate_settings_input(workflow_type, run_status, package_dir, tests, request_group, db_info) -> str:
+        """
+        checks to see if the path passed exists or is using a default
+
+        :return:
+        """
+        ret_val: list = []
+
+        if not workflow_type:
+            ret_val.append(['No workflow type found'])
+
+        if not run_status:
+            ret_val.append('No run status')
+
+        if len(package_dir) != 0 and not os.path.exists(package_dir):
+            ret_val.append('Invalid package directory')
+
+        if not tests:
+            ret_val.append('No tests')
+
+        if not request_group:
+            ret_val.append('No request group')
+        else:
+            # does the request group name already exist?
+            db_ret_val = db_info.get_test_request_name_exists(request_group)
+
+            # check the results
+            if db_ret_val < 0:
+                ret_val.append('DB error getting test request name.')
+            elif db_ret_val:
+                ret_val.append(f"Test request name '{request_group}' already exists.")
+
+        # return to the caller
+        return ', '.join(ret_val)
+
 
 class WorkflowTypeName(str, Enum):
     """
diff --git a/src/server.py b/src/server.py
index 0274f0c..e2ec8d7 100644
--- a/src/server.py
+++ b/src/server.py
@@ -517,8 +517,11 @@ async def superv_workflow_request(workflow_type: WorkflowTypeName,
     db_ret_val: int = 0
 
     try:
+        # get the validation results
+        validation_msg: str = GenUtils.validate_settings_input(workflow_type, run_status, package_dir, tests, request_group, db_info)
+
         # made sure all the params are valid
-        if workflow_type and run_status and os_image and tests:  # and db_image and test_image and tests
+        if len(validation_msg) == 0:
             # convert the string to a dict
             test_request = json.loads(tests)
 
@@ -579,6 +582,7 @@ async def superv_workflow_request(workflow_type: WorkflowTypeName,
                 # else there were no valid tests requested
                 else:
                     ret_val = {'Error': 'No valid tests found.'}
+
             # else there were no tests requested
             else:
                 ret_val = {'Error': 'No tests requested.'}
@@ -589,7 +593,7 @@ async def superv_workflow_request(workflow_type: WorkflowTypeName,
             else:
                 ret_val = {'Success': 'Request successfully submitted.'}
         else:
-            ret_val = {'Error': 'Invalid or missing input parameters.'}
+            ret_val = {'Error': validation_msg}
 
     except Exception:
         # return a failure message