diff --git a/signalk-send-pathvalue.js b/signalk-send-pathvalue.js
index c2b0a42..a11977f 100644
--- a/signalk-send-pathvalue.js
+++ b/signalk-send-pathvalue.js
@@ -13,13 +13,13 @@ module.exports = function(RED) {
     }
     
     node.on('input', msg => {
-      if ( !msg.topic ) {
-        node.error('no topic for incomming message')
+      let path = config.path ? config.path : msg.topic
+
+      if ( !path ) {
+        node.error('no topic or path configured')
         return
       }
 
-      let path = config.path ? config.path : msg.topic
-
       if ( typeof config.meta !== 'undefined' && config.meta !== "" && !sentMeta[path] ) {
         let delta = {
           updates: [