diff --git a/options.py b/options.py
index faa29e1..111242e 100644
--- a/options.py
+++ b/options.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import os
+import sys
 import argparse
 from dataclasses import dataclass, field
 from typing import List
@@ -6,8 +7,9 @@ from typing import List
 
 @dataclass
 class Options:
-    # can be changed
-    jrnl_fname: str = f"{os.path.expanduser('~')}/documents/records/todo.md"
+    jrnl_fname: str = field(
+        default_factory=lambda: f"{os.environ.get('XDG_DATA_HOME', os.environ.get('HOME'))}/jrnl/journal.txt"
+    )
     todo_block_title: str = "todotxt"
     dryrun: bool = False
     taskwarrior_log_completed: bool = True
@@ -36,6 +38,7 @@ def init():
     parse_cmdline_args(parser, opt)
     if opt.dryrun:
         dryrun_show_options(opt)
+    validate_opts(opt)
     return opt
 
 
@@ -94,3 +97,9 @@ def parse_cmdline_args(parser, options):
         options.todo_block_title = args.blocktitle
 
     return options
+
+
+def validate_opts(options):
+    if not os.path.isfile(options.jrnl_fname):
+        print(f"{options.jrnl_fname} does not seem to be a file. Aborting.")
+        sys.exit(1)