diff --git a/proxy/common/config_manager.py b/proxy/common/config_manager.py
index 7190746..811cc2e 100644
--- a/proxy/common/config_manager.py
+++ b/proxy/common/config_manager.py
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ class ProxyConfig:
     """Common configurations for the Proxy Server."""
 
     def __init__(self):
-        print("hello in init of ProxyConfig")
         self.policies = self._load_policies()
 
     def _load_policies(self) -> str:
@@ -18,7 +17,6 @@ class ProxyConfig:
         Loads and validates policies from the file specified in POLICIES_FILE_PATH.
         Returns the policy file content as a string if valid; otherwise, raises an error.
         """
-        print("hello in load_policies")
         policies_file = os.getenv("POLICIES_FILE_PATH", "")
 
         if not policies_file:
diff --git a/run.sh b/run.sh
index 6fb27a7..4f29c59 100755
--- a/run.sh
+++ b/run.sh
@@ -20,8 +20,11 @@ up() {
       shift
   done
 
-  if [[ -n "$POLICIES_FILE_PATH" ]]; then
+  if [[ -n "$POLICIES_FILE_PATH" && -f "$POLICIES_FILE_PATH" ]]; then
     POLICIES_FILE_PATH=$(realpath "$POLICIES_FILE_PATH")
+  else
+      echo "Error: Specified policies file does not exist: $POLICIES_FILE_PATH"
+      exit 1
   fi
 
   # Start Docker Compose with the correct environment variable