diff --git a/storage/basestorage.py b/storage/basestorage.py
index f7c070a24..05f6f6aeb 100644
--- a/storage/basestorage.py
+++ b/storage/basestorage.py
@@ -42,9 +42,12 @@ class BaseStorage(StoragePaths):
     pass
 
   def validate(self, client):
-    """ Called to perform any custom storage system validation. The client is an HTTP
+    """ Called to perform storage system validation. The client is an HTTP
         client to use for any external calls. """
-    pass
+    # Put a temporary file to make sure the normal storage paths work.
+    self.put_content('_verify', 'testing 123')
+    if not self.exists('_verify'):
+      raise Exception('Could not find verification file')
 
   def get_direct_download_url(self, path, expires_in=60, requires_cors=False, head=False):
     return None
diff --git a/storage/local.py b/storage/local.py
index ef515f543..af13389e4 100644
--- a/storage/local.py
+++ b/storage/local.py
@@ -115,6 +115,8 @@ class LocalStorage(BaseStorageV2):
     os.remove(content_path)
 
   def validate(self, client):
+    super(LocalStorage, self).validate()
+
     # Load the set of disk mounts.
     try:
       mounts = psutil.disk_partitions(all=True)
diff --git a/storage/swift.py b/storage/swift.py
index 742e7851c..4ea4590cb 100644
--- a/storage/swift.py
+++ b/storage/swift.py
@@ -157,23 +157,17 @@ class SwiftStorage(BaseStorage):
     return surl.format(scheme=scheme, host=hostname, full_path=full_path, sig=sig, expires=expires)
 
   def validate(self, client):
-    if self._temp_url_key:
-      # Add a file to test direct download.
-      self.put_content('dd_path', 'testing 3456')
+    super(SwiftStorage, self).validate()
 
+    if self._temp_url_key:
       # Generate a direct download URL.
-      dd_url = self.get_direct_download_url('dd_path')
+      dd_url = self.get_direct_download_url('_verify')
 
       if not dd_url:
-        self.remove('dd_path')
         raise Exception('Could not validate direct download URL; the token may be invalid.')
 
       # Try to retrieve the direct download URL.
       response = client.get(dd_url, timeout=2)
-
-      # Remove the test file.
-      self.remove('dd_path')
-
       if response.status_code != 200:
         logger.debug('Direct download failure: %s => %s with body %s', dd_url,
                      response.status_code, response.text)
diff --git a/util/config/validator.py b/util/config/validator.py
index 50253bf63..274963a0c 100644
--- a/util/config/validator.py
+++ b/util/config/validator.py
@@ -107,13 +107,9 @@ def _validate_registry_storage(config, _):
       if replication_enabled and storage_type == 'LocalStorage':
         raise Exception('Locally mounted directory not supported with storage replication')
 
-      # Run custom validation on the driver.
+      # Run validation on the driver.
       driver.validate(app.config['HTTPCLIENT'])
 
-      # Put and remove a temporary file to make sure the normal storage paths work.
-      driver.put_content('_verify', 'testing 123')
-      driver.remove('_verify')
-
       # Run setup on the driver if the read/write succeeded.
       driver.setup()
     except Exception as ex: