diff --git a/kiplot/__main__.py b/kiplot/__main__.py
index c7b7f106..147b3601 100644
--- a/kiplot/__main__.py
+++ b/kiplot/__main__.py
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ from logging import DEBUG
 from . import log
 log.set_domain('kiplot')
 from .gs import (GS)
-from .kiplot import (generate_outputs, load_actions)
+from .kiplot import (generate_outputs, load_actions, config_output)
 from .pre_base import (BasePreFlight)
 from .config_reader import (CfgYamlReader, print_outputs_help, print_output_help, print_preflights_help, create_example)
 from .misc import (NO_PCB_FILE, NO_SCH_FILE, EXIT_BAD_ARGS)
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ def list_pre_and_outs(logger, outputs):
     if len(outputs):
         logger.info('Outputs:')
         for o in outputs:
+            config_output(o)
             logger.info('- '+str(o))
 
 
diff --git a/kiplot/config_reader.py b/kiplot/config_reader.py
index 56790999..46ce2519 100644
--- a/kiplot/config_reader.py
+++ b/kiplot/config_reader.py
@@ -41,14 +41,14 @@ class CfgYamlReader(object):
             config_error("Unknown KiPlot config version: "+str(version))
         return version
 
-    def _parse_output(self, o_obj):
+    def _parse_output(self, o_tree):
         try:
-            name = o_obj['name']
+            name = o_tree['name']
         except KeyError:
-            config_error("Output needs a name in: "+str(o_obj))
+            config_error("Output needs a name in: "+str(o_tree))
 
         try:
-            otype = o_obj['type']
+            otype = o_tree['type']
         except KeyError:
             config_error("Output `"+name+"` needs a type")
 
@@ -60,11 +60,10 @@ class CfgYamlReader(object):
         # Load it
         logger.debug("Parsing output options for "+name_type)
         o_out = RegOutput.get_class_for(otype)()
-        # Apply the options
-        try:
-            o_out.config(o_obj)
-        except KiPlotConfigurationError as e:
-            config_error("In section '"+name+"' ("+otype+"): "+str(e))
+        o_out.set_tree(o_tree)
+        # Set the data we already know, so we can skip the configurations that aren't requested
+        o_out.name = name
+        o_out.type = otype
 
         return o_out
 
diff --git a/kiplot/drill_marks.py b/kiplot/drill_marks.py
index 82620253..3034b9b9 100644
--- a/kiplot/drill_marks.py
+++ b/kiplot/drill_marks.py
@@ -38,8 +38,8 @@ class DrillMarks(AnyLayerOptions):
             raise KiPlotConfigurationError("Unknown drill mark type: {}".format(val))
         self._drill_marks = val
 
-    def config(self, tree):
-        super().config(tree)
+    def config(self):
+        super().config()
         self._drill_marks = DrillMarks._drill_marks_map[self._drill_marks]
 
     def _configure_plot_ctrl(self, po, output_dir):
diff --git a/kiplot/kiplot.py b/kiplot/kiplot.py
index 299e7202..456f3f08 100644
--- a/kiplot/kiplot.py
+++ b/kiplot/kiplot.py
@@ -145,6 +145,13 @@ def get_output_dir(o_dir):
     return outdir
 
 
+def config_output(out):
+    try:
+        out.config()
+    except KiPlotConfigurationError as e:
+        config_error("In section '"+out.name+"' ("+out.type+"): "+str(e))
+
+
 def generate_outputs(outputs, target, invert, skip_pre):
     logger.debug("Starting outputs for board {}".format(GS.pcb_file))
     preflight_checks(skip_pre)
@@ -158,12 +165,13 @@ def generate_outputs(outputs, target, invert, skip_pre):
     board = None
     for out in outputs:
         if (n == 0) or ((out.name in target) ^ invert):
-            logger.info('- '+str(out))
             # Should we load the PCB?
             if out.is_pcb() and (board is None):
                 board = load_board()
             if out.is_sch():
                 GS.check_sch()
+            config_output(out)
+            logger.info('- '+str(out))
             try:
                 out.run(get_output_dir(out.dir), board)
             except PlotError as e:
diff --git a/kiplot/layer.py b/kiplot/layer.py
index 10e1fb5a..6e721ed4 100644
--- a/kiplot/layer.py
+++ b/kiplot/layer.py
@@ -70,10 +70,10 @@ class Layer(Optionable):
             """ A description for the layer, for documentation purposes """  # pragma: no cover
         self._unkown_is_error = True
 
-    def config(self, tree):
-        super().config(tree)
+    def config(self):
+        super().config()
         if not self.layer:
-            raise KiPlotConfigurationError("Missing or empty `layer` attribute for layer entry ({})".format(tree))
+            raise KiPlotConfigurationError("Missing or empty `layer` attribute for layer entry ({})".format(self._tree))
         if not self.description:
             if self.layer in Layer.DEFAULT_LAYER_DESC:
                 self.description = Layer.DEFAULT_LAYER_DESC[self.layer]
diff --git a/kiplot/optionable.py b/kiplot/optionable.py
index 2ff2598f..99e8214b 100644
--- a/kiplot/optionable.py
+++ b/kiplot/optionable.py
@@ -117,7 +117,8 @@ class Optionable(object):
                         # Create an object for the valid class
                         v = cur_val()
                         # Delegate the validation to the object
-                        v.config(new_val)
+                        v.set_tree(new_val)
+                        v.config()
                     elif isinstance(v, list):
                         new_val = []
                         for element in v:
@@ -127,7 +128,8 @@ class Optionable(object):
                                                                format(element, valid, e_type))
                             if isinstance(element, dict):
                                 nv = cur_val()
-                                nv.config(element)
+                                nv.set_tree(element)
+                                nv.config()
                                 new_val.append(nv)
                             else:
                                 new_val.append(element)
@@ -135,9 +137,11 @@ class Optionable(object):
             # Seems to be ok, map it
             setattr(self, alias if is_alias else k, v)
 
-    def config(self, tree):
+    def set_tree(self, tree):
         self._tree = tree
-        if tree:
+
+    def config(self):
+        if self._tree:
             self._perform_config_mapping()
 
     def get_attrs_for(self):
diff --git a/kiplot/out_any_drill.py b/kiplot/out_any_drill.py
index 9ceb2e71..b29c5f3a 100644
--- a/kiplot/out_any_drill.py
+++ b/kiplot/out_any_drill.py
@@ -53,10 +53,10 @@ class AnyDrill(BaseOptions):
                          'svg': PLOT_FORMAT_SVG,
                          'pdf': PLOT_FORMAT_PDF
                         }
-        self._map_ext = { 'hpgl': 'plt', 'ps': 'ps', 'gerber': 'gbr', 'dxf': 'dxf', 'svg': 'svg', 'pdf': 'pdf' }
+        self._map_ext = {'hpgl': 'plt', 'ps': 'ps', 'gerber': 'gbr', 'dxf': 'dxf', 'svg': 'svg', 'pdf': 'pdf'}
 
-    def config(self, tree):
-        super().config(tree)
+    def config(self):
+        super().config()
         # Solve the map for both cases
         if isinstance(self.map, str):
             self.map_ext = self._map_ext[self.map]
diff --git a/kiplot/out_any_layer.py b/kiplot/out_any_layer.py
index 6d0d1765..b00a6ef9 100644
--- a/kiplot/out_any_layer.py
+++ b/kiplot/out_any_layer.py
@@ -122,8 +122,8 @@ class AnyLayer(BaseOutput):
             """ [list(dict)|list(string)|string] [all,selected,copper,technical,user]
                 List of PCB layers to plot """  # pragma: no cover
 
-    def config(self, tree):
-        super().config(tree)
+    def config(self):
+        super().config()
         # We need layers
         if isinstance(self.layers, type):
             raise KiPlotConfigurationError("Missing `layers` list")
diff --git a/kiplot/out_base.py b/kiplot/out_base.py
index 6987a585..f67aece9 100644
--- a/kiplot/out_base.py
+++ b/kiplot/out_base.py
@@ -37,8 +37,8 @@ class BaseOutput(RegOutput):
         """ True for outputs that works on the PCB """
         return not self._sch_related
 
-    def config(self, tree):
-        super().config(tree)
+    def config(self):
+        super().config()
         if getattr(self, 'options', None) and isinstance(self.options, type):
             # No options, get the defaults
             self.options = self.options()
diff --git a/kiplot/out_pcbdraw.py b/kiplot/out_pcbdraw.py
index b43f0c34..943fb8db 100644
--- a/kiplot/out_pcbdraw.py
+++ b/kiplot/out_pcbdraw.py
@@ -44,8 +44,8 @@ class PcbDrawStyle(Optionable):
         if not self._color_re.match(color):
             raise KiPlotConfigurationError('Invalid color for `{}` use `#rrggbb` with hex digits'.format(name))
 
-    def config(self, tree):
-        super().config(tree)
+    def config(self):
+        super().config()
         self.validate_color('board')
         self.validate_color('copper')
         self.validate_color('board')
@@ -67,8 +67,8 @@ class PcbDrawRemap(Optionable):
     def __init__(self):
         super().__init__()
 
-    def config(self, tree):
-        self._tree = tree
+    def config(self):
+        pass
 
 
 class PcbDrawOptions(BaseOptions):
@@ -105,8 +105,8 @@ class PcbDrawOptions(BaseOptions):
             self.output = '%f-%i.%x'
             """ name for the generated file """  # pragma: no cover
 
-    def config(self, tree):
-        super().config(tree)
+    def config(self):
+        super().config()
         # Libs
         if isinstance(self.libs, type):
             self.libs = None
diff --git a/kiplot/out_pdf_pcb_print.py b/kiplot/out_pdf_pcb_print.py
index 744c4d16..da9c42ae 100644
--- a/kiplot/out_pdf_pcb_print.py
+++ b/kiplot/out_pdf_pcb_print.py
@@ -62,8 +62,8 @@ class PDF_Pcb_Print(BaseOutput):  # noqa: F821
             """ [list(dict)|list(string)|string] [all,selected,copper,technical,user]
                 List of PCB layers to include in the PDF """  # pragma: no cover
 
-    def config(self, tree):
-        super().config(tree)
+    def config(self):
+        super().config()
         # We need layers
         if isinstance(self.layers, type):
             raise KiPlotConfigurationError("Missing `layers` list")
diff --git a/kiplot/pre_filters.py b/kiplot/pre_filters.py
index df426c0e..9b091ba4 100644
--- a/kiplot/pre_filters.py
+++ b/kiplot/pre_filters.py
@@ -36,8 +36,8 @@ class FiltersOptions(Optionable):
             self.filters = FilterOptions
             """ [list(dict)] DRC/ERC errors to be ignored """  # pragma: no cover
 
-    def config(self, tree):
-        super().config(tree)
+    def config(self):
+        super().config()
         parsed = None
         for f in self.filters:
             where = ' (in `{}` filter)'.format(f.filter) if f.filter else ''
@@ -62,7 +62,8 @@ class Filters(BasePreFlight):  # noqa: F821
     """ [list(dict)] A list of entries to filter out ERC/DRC messages """
     def __init__(self, name, value):
         f = FiltersOptions()
-        f.config({'filters': value})
+        f.set_tree({'filters': value})
+        f.config()
         super().__init__(name, f.filters)
 
     def get_example():