diff --git a/.github/workflows/lint_python.yml b/.github/workflows/lint_python.yml
index 7f7c737..d34cfdc 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/lint_python.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/lint_python.yml
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ jobs:
       - run: bandit --recursive  --skip B105,B108,B404,B603,B607 .
       - run: black --check --diff --line-length 79 .
       - run: codespell
-      - run: flake8 . --count --max-complexity=16 --max-line-length=79
+      - run: flake8 . --count --max-complexity=12 --max-line-length=79
                       --show-source --statistics
       - run: isort --check-only --line-length 79 --profile black .
       # - run: pip install -r tubearchivist/requirements.txt
diff --git a/deploy.sh b/deploy.sh
index 0edaaa2..c9954d3 100755
--- a/deploy.sh
+++ b/deploy.sh
@@ -52,6 +52,34 @@ function sync_test {
 }
 
 
+# run same tests and checks as with github action but locally
+# takes filename to validate as optional argument
+function validate {
+
+    if [[ $1 ]]; then
+        check_path="$1"
+    else
+        check_path="."
+    fi
+
+    echo "run validate on $check_path"
+    
+    echo "running bandit"
+    bandit --recursive --skip B105,B108,B404,B603,B607 "$check_path"
+    echo "running black"
+    black --diff --color --check -l 79 "$check_path"
+    echo "running codespell"
+    codespell --skip="./.git" "$check_path"
+    echo "running flake8"
+    flake8 "$check_path" --count --max-complexity=12 --max-line-length=79 \
+        --show-source --statistics
+    echo "running isort"
+    isort --check-only --diff --profile black -l 79 "$check_path"
+    printf "    \n> all validations passed\n"
+
+}
+
+
 function sync_docker {
 
     # check things
@@ -105,10 +133,12 @@ if [[ $1 == "blackhole" ]]; then
     sync_blackhole
 elif [[ $1 == "test" ]]; then
     sync_test
+elif [[ $1 == "validate" ]]; then
+    validate "$2"
 elif [[ $1 == "docker" ]]; then
     sync_docker
 else
-    echo "valid options are: blackhole | test | docker"
+    echo "valid options are: blackhole | test | validate | docker"
 fi