diff --git a/src/qbpm/__init__.py b/src/qbpm/__init__.py
index a1833fb..58d2f00 100644
--- a/src/qbpm/__init__.py
+++ b/src/qbpm/__init__.py
@@ -20,14 +20,11 @@ class Profile:
         self.profile_dir = profile_dir
         self.root = self.profile_dir / name
 
-    def check(self) -> Optional["Profile"]:
-        if "/" in self.name:
-            error("profile name cannot contain slashes")
-            return None
-        return self
-
-    def exists(self) -> bool:
-        return self.root.exists() and self.root.is_dir()
+    def check_name(self) -> bool:
+        if "/" in self.name or self.name in [".", ".."]:
+            error("profile name cannot be a path")
+            return False
+        return True
 
     def cmdline(self) -> list[str]:
         return [
diff --git a/src/qbpm/main.py b/src/qbpm/main.py
index 263a0bb..6d090ba 100644
--- a/src/qbpm/main.py
+++ b/src/qbpm/main.py
@@ -190,6 +190,8 @@ def launch_profile(
 
     All QB_ARGS are passed on to qutebrowser."""
     profile = Profile(profile_name, **vars(context))
+    if not profiles.check(profile):
+        sys.exit(1)
     exit_with(launch_qutebrowser(profile, foreground, qb_args))
 
 
@@ -223,8 +225,7 @@ def choose(
 def edit(context: Context, profile_name: str) -> None:
     """Edit a profile's config.py."""
     profile = Profile(profile_name, **vars(context))
-    if not profile.exists():
-        error(f"profile {profile.name} not found at {profile.root}")
+    if not profiles.check(profile):
         sys.exit(1)
     click.edit(filename=str(profile.root / "config" / "config.py"))
 
diff --git a/src/qbpm/operations.py b/src/qbpm/operations.py
index 0b9d671..fd4a3c8 100644
--- a/src/qbpm/operations.py
+++ b/src/qbpm/operations.py
@@ -24,9 +24,7 @@ def from_session(
 
 
 def desktop(profile: Profile) -> bool:
-    exists = profile.exists()
+    exists = profiles.check(profile)
     if exists:
         create_desktop_file(profile)
-    else:
-        error(f"profile {profile.name} not found at {profile.root}")
     return exists
diff --git a/src/qbpm/profiles.py b/src/qbpm/profiles.py
index ae048fe..3e19e15 100644
--- a/src/qbpm/profiles.py
+++ b/src/qbpm/profiles.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ MIME_TYPES = [
 
 
 def create_profile(profile: Profile, overwrite: bool = False) -> bool:
-    if not profile.check():
+    if not profile.check_name():
         return False
 
     if not overwrite and profile.root.exists():
@@ -53,13 +53,19 @@ def create_config(
         out(f"config.source(r'{qb_config_dir / 'config.py'}')")
 
 
-def exists(profile: Profile) -> bool:
-    if profile.root.exists() and not profile.root.is_dir():
-        error(f"{profile.root} is not a directory")
+def check(profile: Profile) -> bool:
+    if not profile.check_name():
         return False
-    if not profile.root.exists():
+    exists = profile.root.exists()
+    if not exists:
         error(f"{profile.root} does not exist")
         return False
+    if not profile.root.is_dir():
+        error(f"{profile.root} is not a directory")
+        return False
+    if not (profile.root / "config").is_dir():
+        error(f"no config directory in {profile.root}, is it a profile?")
+        return False
     return True