diff --git a/internal/configload/configload.go b/internal/configload/configload.go
index 4c29b4ce..9ea31482 100644
--- a/internal/configload/configload.go
+++ b/internal/configload/configload.go
@@ -159,7 +159,10 @@ func loadContent(content, db string) (*config.Config, error) {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to decode runner parameters: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	params := p.convert()
+	params, err := p.convert()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to convert runner parameters: %w", err)
+	}
 
 	res := pc.Results[db]
 	if res == nil {
diff --git a/internal/configload/configload_test.go b/internal/configload/configload_test.go
index 3cb1d707..5ee37515 100644
--- a/internal/configload/configload_test.go
+++ b/internal/configload/configload_test.go
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ func FuzzLoadContent(f *testing.F) {
 		file     string
 		db       string
 		expected *config.Config
-		err      error
+		err      string
 	}{
 		{
 			file: "command.yml",
@@ -55,15 +55,24 @@ func FuzzLoadContent(f *testing.F) {
 				},
 			},
 		},
+		{
+			file: "command_nodir.yml",
+			db:   "ferretdb-postgresql",
+			err:  "failed to convert runner parameters: dir is required",
+		},
 	} {
 		b, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join("testdata", tc.file))
 		require.NoError(f, err, "file = %s", tc.file)
 
 		actual, err := loadContent(string(b), tc.db)
-		if tc.err == nil {
+		if tc.err == "" {
+			require.NoError(f, err, "file = %s", tc.file)
+			require.NotNil(f, actual, "file = %s", tc.file)
 			require.Equal(f, tc.expected, actual, "file = %s", tc.file)
 		} else {
-			require.Equal(f, tc.err, err, "file = %s", tc.file)
+			require.Error(f, err, "file = %s", tc.file)
+			require.EqualError(f, err, tc.err, "file = %s", tc.file)
+			require.Nil(f, actual, "file = %s", tc.file)
 		}
 
 		for db := range DBs {
diff --git a/internal/configload/runner.go b/internal/configload/runner.go
index 34fa877a..0a01b7c8 100644
--- a/internal/configload/runner.go
+++ b/internal/configload/runner.go
@@ -14,13 +14,17 @@
 
 package configload
 
-import "github.com/FerretDB/dance/internal/config"
+import (
+	"fmt"
+
+	"github.com/FerretDB/dance/internal/config"
+)
 
 // runnerParams is common interface for runner parameters.
 //
 //sumtype:decl
 type runnerParams interface {
-	convert() config.RunnerParams // seal for sumtype
+	convert() (config.RunnerParams, error) // seal for sumtype
 }
 
 // runnerParamsCommand represents `command` runner parameters in the project configuration YAML file.
@@ -34,7 +38,11 @@ type runnerParamsCommand struct {
 }
 
 // convert implements [runnerParams] interface.
-func (rp *runnerParamsCommand) convert() config.RunnerParams {
+func (rp *runnerParamsCommand) convert() (config.RunnerParams, error) {
+	if rp.Dir == "" {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("dir is required")
+	}
+
 	res := &config.RunnerParamsCommand{
 		Dir:   rp.Dir,
 		Setup: rp.Setup,
@@ -47,7 +55,7 @@ func (rp *runnerParamsCommand) convert() config.RunnerParams {
 		})
 	}
 
-	return res
+	return res, nil
 }
 
 // runnerParamsGoTest represents `gotest` runner parameters in the project configuration YAML file.
@@ -56,10 +64,10 @@ type runnerParamsGoTest struct {
 }
 
 // convert implements [runnerParams] interface.
-func (rp *runnerParamsGoTest) convert() config.RunnerParams {
+func (rp *runnerParamsGoTest) convert() (config.RunnerParams, error) {
 	return &config.RunnerParamsGoTest{
 		Args: rp.Args,
-	}
+	}, nil
 }
 
 // check interfaces
diff --git a/internal/configload/testdata/command_nodir.yml b/internal/configload/testdata/command_nodir.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a6924070
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/configload/testdata/command_nodir.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+runner: command
+params:
+  tests: []
+
+results: {}