diff --git a/src/config/settings.py b/src/config/settings.py
index 4fcbc83..6cf2ad5 100644
--- a/src/config/settings.py
+++ b/src/config/settings.py
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-from pathlib import Path
-
 from decouple import Choices, Csv, config
 
 from src.config.networks import NETWORKS
@@ -28,7 +26,7 @@
 obol_keystores_dir: str = config('OBOL_KEYSTORES_DIR', default='')
 obol_keystores_dir_template: str = config('OBOL_KEYSTORES_DIR_TEMPLATE', default='')
 
-obol_cluster_lock_file = Path(config('OBOL_CLUSTER_LOCK_FILE'), default='')
+obol_cluster_lock_file = config('OBOL_CLUSTER_LOCK_FILE', default='')
 
 obol_node_index: int | None = config(
     'OBOL_NODE_INDEX', cast=lambda x: int(x) if x != '' else None, default=''
diff --git a/src/validators/keystores/obol.py b/src/validators/keystores/obol.py
index 65afed1..fafb502 100644
--- a/src/validators/keystores/obol.py
+++ b/src/validators/keystores/obol.py
@@ -60,6 +60,9 @@ async def load_from_dir(keystores_dir: Path, node_index: int) -> 'ObolKeystore':
 
     @staticmethod
     def load_cluster_lock() -> dict:
+        if not settings.obol_cluster_lock_file:
+            raise RuntimeError('OBOL_CLUSTER_LOCK_FILE must be set')
+
         return json.load(open(settings.obol_cluster_lock_file, encoding='ascii'))
 
     @staticmethod