diff --git a/internal/configuration/settings/socks5.go b/internal/configuration/settings/socks5.go
index f9b0cdc5..7c2cc115 100644
--- a/internal/configuration/settings/socks5.go
+++ b/internal/configuration/settings/socks5.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package settings
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 
@@ -24,6 +25,13 @@ func (s Socks5) validate() (err error) {
 		return fmt.Errorf("server listening address is not valid: %w", err)
 	}
 
+	switch {
+	case *s.Username != "" && *s.Password == "":
+		return errors.New("password must be set if username is set")
+	case *s.Username == "" && *s.Password != "":
+		return errors.New("username must be set if password is set")
+	}
+
 	return nil
 }
 
diff --git a/internal/socks5/loop.go b/internal/socks5/loop.go
index ada4051f..18b77bff 100644
--- a/internal/socks5/loop.go
+++ b/internal/socks5/loop.go
@@ -35,11 +35,10 @@ func (l *Loop) Start(_ context.Context) (runError <-chan error, err error) {
 
 	runDone := make(chan error)
 	l.runDone = runDone
-	runErrorCh := make(chan error)
 
 	go run(runCtx, runDone, l.settings)
 
-	return runErrorCh, nil
+	return nil, nil //nolint:nilnil
 }
 
 func run(ctx context.Context, done chan<- error, settings Settings) {