2 files changed, 3 insertions, 2 deletions

diff --git a/sway/commands/exec_always.c b/sway/commands/exec_always.c
index 8bdeceeb..7a15709b 100644
--- a/sway/commands/exec_always.c
+++ b/sway/commands/exec_always.c
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 
 struct cmd_results *cmd_exec_always(int argc, char **argv) {
         struct cmd_results *error = NULL;
-        if (!config->active) return cmd_results_new(CMD_DEFER, NULL, NULL);
+        if (!config->active || config->validating) return cmd_results_new(CMD_DEFER, NULL, NULL);
         if ((error = checkarg(argc, argv[-1], EXPECTED_AT_LEAST, 1))) {
                 return error;
         }
diff --git a/sway/config.c b/sway/config.c
index 9ec40367..7ef3ef38 100644
--- a/sway/config.c
+++ b/sway/config.c
@@ -389,7 +389,8 @@ bool load_main_config(const char *file, bool is_active, bool validating) {
         config_defaults(config);
         config->validating = validating;
         if (is_active) {
-                wlr_log(WLR_DEBUG, "Performing configuration file reload");
+                wlr_log(WLR_DEBUG, "Performing configuration file %s",
+                        validating ? "validation" : "reload");
                 config->reloading = true;
                 config->active = true;