diff --git a/src/forge.nim b/src/forge.nim
index 281342c..e5cb8a5 100644
--- a/src/forge.nim
+++ b/src/forge.nim
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
-import std/[os, osproc, strformat, strutils, tables, terminal]
+import std/[os, osproc, sequtils, strformat, strutils, tables, terminal]
 
-import forge/[config, utils, term]
+import forge/[config, utils, term, zig]
+
+proc genFlags(target: string, args: seq[string] = @[]): seq[string] =
+  let triplet = parseTriplet(target)
 
-proc genFlags(triplet: Triplet, args: seq[string] = @[]): seq[string] =
   addFlag "cpu"
   addFlag "os"
 
@@ -27,10 +29,11 @@ proc cc(target: string, dryrun: bool = false, nimble: bool = false, args: seq[st
   if args.len == 0:
     termErrQuit "expected additional arguments i.e. -- -d:release src/main.nim"
 
+  checkTargets(@[target])
+
   let
-    targets = zigTargets()
-    ccArgs = genFlags(parseTriplet(target, targets), args)
     rest = parseArgs(args)
+    ccArgs = genFlags(target, rest)
     baseCmd = if nimble: "nimble" else: "nim"
     cmd = (@[baseCmd] & @["c"] & ccArgs & rest).join(" ")
 
@@ -79,14 +82,15 @@ proc release(
   if cfg.bins.len == 0:
     termErrQuit "expected at least 1 bin"
 
+  checkTargets(cfg.targets.keys.toSeq())
+
   if verbose:
     termEcho $cfg
 
   if dryrun:
     termEcho styleBright, fgBlue, "dry run...see below for commands"
-
+  
   let
-    targets = zigTargets()
     baseCmd = if nimble or cfg.nimble: "nimble" else: "nim"
     rest = parseArgs(args)
 
@@ -101,7 +105,7 @@ proc release(
       ) & "'"
 
       cmdParts &= @[baseCmd, "c"]
-      cmdParts.add genFlags(parseTriplet(t, targets), rest)
+      cmdParts.add genFlags(t, rest)
       cmdParts.add "-d:release"
       cmdParts.add rest
       cmdParts.add outFlag
diff --git a/src/forge/utils.nim b/src/forge/utils.nim
index 1c1eace..f7e076d 100644
--- a/src/forge/utils.nim
+++ b/src/forge/utils.nim
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
-import std/[json, macros, math, os, osproc, sequtils, strutils, strformat, terminal]
+import std/[json, macros, math, os, sequtils, strutils, strformat, terminal]
 
 import term
+from zig import zigTargets
 
 proc columns*(items: seq[string]): string =
   ## return a list of items as equally spaced columns
@@ -21,24 +22,6 @@ template parseArgs*(args: seq[string]): seq[string] =
   else:
     args
 
-# based on https://github.com/enthus1ast/zigcc
-template callZig*(zigCmd: string) =
-  # Set the zig compiler to call and append args
-  var args = @[zigCmd]
-  args &= commandLineParams()
-  # Start process
-  let process = startProcess(
-    "zig",
-    args = args,
-    options = {poStdErrToStdOut, poUsePath, poParentStreams}
-  )
-  # Get the code so we can carry across the exit code
-  let exitCode = process.waitForExit()
-  # Clean up
-  close process
-  quit exitCode
-
-
 type
   Triplet* = object
     cpu: string
@@ -47,29 +30,25 @@ type
 
 proc `$`*(t: Triplet): string = &"{t.cpu}-{t.os}-{t.libc}"
 
-proc parseTriplet*(s: string, targets: seq[string]): Triplet =
-  if s notin targets:
-    termErr &"unknown target: {s}", "", "must be one of:"
-    stderr.writeLine targets.columns
+proc checkTargets*(targets: seq[string]) = 
+  let knownTargets = zigTargets()
+  var unknownTargets: seq[string]
+  for target in targets:
+    if target notin knowntargets:
+      unknownTargets.add target
+
+  if unknownTargets.len != 0:
+    termErr &"unknown target(s): " & unknownTargets.join(", ")
+    termEcho "must be one of:"
+    stderr.writeLine knownTargets.columns
     quit 1
 
-
+proc parseTriplet*(s: string): Triplet =
   let parts = s.split("-")
   result.cpu = parts[0]
   result.os = parts[1]
   result.libc = parts[2]
 
-proc zigExists*() =
-  if (findExe "zig") == "":
-    termErr "zig not found"
-    termErr "  forge requires a working installation of zig"
-    termErr "  see: https://ziglang.org/download/"
-    quit 1
-
-proc zigTargets*(): seq[string] =
-  let (output, _) = execCmdEx "zig targets"
-  parseJson(output)["libc"].to(seq[string])
-
 macro addFlag*(arg: untyped): untyped =
   let
     flag = "--" & arg.strVal & ":"
diff --git a/src/forge/zig.nim b/src/forge/zig.nim
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6eed198
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/forge/zig.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+import std/[json, os, osproc, terminal]
+
+import term
+
+proc zigTargets*(): seq[string] =
+  let (output, _) = execCmdEx "zig targets"
+  parseJson(output)["libc"].to(seq[string])
+
+# based on https://github.com/enthus1ast/zigcc
+template callZig*(zigCmd: string) =
+  # Set the zig compiler to call and append args
+  var args = @[zigCmd]
+  args &= commandLineParams()
+  # Start process
+  let process = startProcess(
+    "zig",
+    args = args,
+    options = {poStdErrToStdOut, poUsePath, poParentStreams}
+  )
+  # Get the code so we can carry across the exit code
+  let exitCode = process.waitForExit()
+  # Clean up
+  close process
+  quit exitCode
+
+
+proc zigExists*() =
+  if (findExe "zig") == "":
+    termErr "zig not found"
+    termErr "  forge requires a working installation of zig"
+    termErr "  see: https://ziglang.org/download/"
+    quit 1
+
+
diff --git a/src/forgecc.nim b/src/forgecc.nim
index a2b88fd..253266d 100644
--- a/src/forgecc.nim
+++ b/src/forgecc.nim
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
-import forge/utils
+import forge/zig
 
 callZig("cc")