diff --git a/i3pystatus/core/config.py b/i3pystatus/core/config.py
index d118f31..688cc2d 100644
--- a/i3pystatus/core/config.py
+++ b/i3pystatus/core/config.py
@@ -52,10 +52,15 @@ class Config:
             import i3pystatus
             class TestStatus(i3pystatus.Status):
                 def run(self):
+                    self.modules.reverse()
                     self.call_start_hooks()
                     for module in self.modules:
                         sys.stdout.write("{module}: ".format(module=module.__name__))
                         sys.stdout.flush()
+                        test = module.test()
+                        if test:
+                            print("\n\t", test)
+                            continue
                         module.run()
                         output = module.output or {"full_text": "(no output)"}
                         print(render_json(output))
@@ -65,6 +70,5 @@ class Config:
             i3pystatus.Status = i3pystatus.Status.__bases__[0]
 
         with setup():
-            print("Using configuration file {file}".format(file=self.config_file))
-            print("Output, would be displayed right to left in i3bar")
+            print("Using configuration file {file}\n".format(file=self.config_file))
             self.run()
diff --git a/i3pystatus/core/modules.py b/i3pystatus/core/modules.py
index a70de73..8cca4cf 100644
--- a/i3pystatus/core/modules.py
+++ b/i3pystatus/core/modules.py
@@ -21,6 +21,15 @@ class Module(SettingsBase):
             self.output["instance"] = str(id(self))
             json.insert(0, self.output)
 
+    def test(self):
+        """
+        Return None* if settings seem ok (i.e. login credentials and such are valid)
+        or a string describing the problem
+
+        * or some other value evaluating to false in a boolean context
+        """
+        return 
+
     def on_click(self, button):
         if button == 1: # Left mouse button
             self.on_leftclick()