diff --git a/pkg/config/errors.go b/pkg/config/errors.go
index 1a8842f48..bb0e008cf 100644
--- a/pkg/config/errors.go
+++ b/pkg/config/errors.go
@@ -249,3 +249,31 @@ func (e ErrUnknownManagementType) Error() string {
 	return fmt.Sprintf("Unknown management type '%s'. Known types include '%s' and '%s'.", e.Type,
 		redfish.ClientType, redfishdell.ClientType)
 }
+
+// ErrMissingManifestName is returned when manifest name is empty
+type ErrMissingManifestName struct {
+}
+
+func (e ErrMissingManifestName) Error() string {
+	return "missing manifest name"
+}
+
+// ErrMissingFlag is returned when flag is not provided
+type ErrMissingFlag struct {
+	FlagName string
+}
+
+func (e ErrMissingFlag) Error() string {
+	return fmt.Sprintf("missing flag, specify a --%s to embed", e.FlagName)
+}
+
+// ErrCheckFile is returned if there is error when checking file on FS
+type ErrCheckFile struct {
+	FlagName    string
+	Path        string
+	InternalErr error
+}
+
+func (e ErrCheckFile) Error() string {
+	return fmt.Sprintf("could not read %s data from '%s': %v", e.FlagName, e.Path, e.InternalErr)
+}
diff --git a/pkg/config/options.go b/pkg/config/options.go
index 96917af6c..356098d87 100644
--- a/pkg/config/options.go
+++ b/pkg/config/options.go
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ limitations under the License.
 package config
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
 	"os"
 
 	"opendev.org/airship/airshipctl/pkg/errors"
@@ -77,8 +76,6 @@ type ManifestOptions struct {
 // is possible to create (and validate) these objects without using the command
 // line.
 
-// TODO(howell): strongly type the errors in this file
-
 // Validate checks for the possible authentication values and returns
 // Error when invalid value or incompatible choice of values given
 func (o *AuthInfoOptions) Validate() error {
@@ -162,10 +159,14 @@ func (o *ClusterOptions) Validate() error {
 
 func checkExists(flagName, path string) error {
 	if path == "" {
-		return fmt.Errorf("you must specify a --%s to embed", flagName)
+		return ErrMissingFlag{FlagName: flagName}
 	}
 	if _, err := os.Stat(path); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("could not read %s data from '%s': %v", flagName, path, err)
+		return ErrCheckFile{
+			FlagName:    flagName,
+			Path:        path,
+			InternalErr: err,
+		}
 	}
 	return nil
 }
@@ -174,10 +175,10 @@ func checkExists(flagName, path string) error {
 // Error when invalid value or incompatible choice of values given
 func (o *ManifestOptions) Validate() error {
 	if o.Name == "" {
-		return fmt.Errorf("you must specify a non-empty Manifest name")
+		return ErrMissingManifestName{}
 	}
 	if o.RemoteRef != "" {
-		return fmt.Errorf("repository checkout by RemoteRef is not yet implemented\n%w", errors.ErrNotImplemented{})
+		return errors.ErrNotImplemented{What: "repository checkout by RemoteRef"}
 	}
 	if o.IsPrimary && o.RepoName == "" {
 		return ErrMissingRepositoryName{}