diff --git a/.github/actions/pmem_test_prepare/action.yml b/.github/actions/pmem_test_prepare/action.yml
index e9ca0982590..29e9b6cdcf7 100644
--- a/.github/actions/pmem_test_prepare/action.yml
+++ b/.github/actions/pmem_test_prepare/action.yml
@@ -38,10 +38,13 @@ runs:
         PMEMOBJ_IGNORE_BAD_BLOCKS: ${{ inputs.ndctl_enable == 'n' && 'y' || 'n' }}
         VALGRIND: ${{ inputs.valgrind }}
       run: |
+        echo '::group::Validate input'
+        [[ "${{ inputs.valgrind }}" ]] || { echo "valgrind input is empty" ; exit 1; }
+        echo '::endgroup::'
         echo '::group::Build'
         $WORKDIR/build-pmdk.sh
         echo '::endgroup::'
-      shell: bash
+        shell: bash
 
     - run: |
         echo '::group::Create testconfig files'
diff --git a/.github/workflows/pmem_tests.yml b/.github/workflows/pmem_tests.yml
index 972e9eebe42..67eca2d1837 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pmem_tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pmem_tests.yml
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Test prepare
         uses: ./.github/actions/pmem_test_prepare
         with:
-          valgrid: 1
+          valgrind: 1
 
       - name: Test run
         uses: ./.github/actions/pmem_test_run