diff --git a/server/validate.js b/server/validate.js
index 07ffceff..8a091605 100644
--- a/server/validate.js
+++ b/server/validate.js
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 'use strict';
 
+const tryCatch = require('try-catch');
+
 const config = require('./config');
 const exit = require('./exit');
 const columns = require('./columns');
@@ -14,15 +16,14 @@ module.exports.root = (dir, fn) => {
     if (config('dropbox'))
         return;
     
-    const fs = require('fs');
+    const {statSync} = require('fs');
+    const [error] = tryCatch(statSync, dir);
     
-    fs.stat(dir, (error) => {
-        if (error)
-            return exit('cloudcmd --root: %s', error.message);
-        
-        if (typeof fn === 'function')
-            fn('root:', dir);
-    });
+    if (error)
+        return exit('cloudcmd --root: %s', error.message);
+    
+    if (typeof fn === 'function')
+        fn('root:', dir);
 };
 
 module.exports.editor = (name) => {
diff --git a/test/server/validate.js b/test/server/validate.js
index 5938689e..73a4e728 100644
--- a/test/server/validate.js
+++ b/test/server/validate.js
@@ -50,10 +50,12 @@ test('validate: root: /home', (t) => {
 
 test('validate: root: stat', (t) => {
     const fn = sinon.stub();
-    const {stat} = fs;
+    const {statSync} = fs;
     
     const error = 'ENOENT';
-    fs.stat = (dir, fn) => fn(Error(error));
+    fs.statSync = () => {
+        throw Error(error);
+    };
     
     mockRequire(exitPath, fn);
     
@@ -62,7 +64,7 @@ test('validate: root: stat', (t) => {
     root('hello', fn);
     
     const msg = 'cloudcmd --root: %s';
-    fs.stat = stat;
+    fs.statSync = statSync;
     
     mockRequire.stop(exitPath);
     t.ok(fn.calledWith(msg, error), 'should call fn');