diff --git a/modules/device.py b/modules/device.py
index f02f35b..e61cede 100644
--- a/modules/device.py
+++ b/modules/device.py
@@ -320,7 +320,10 @@ class PhysicalDevice:
             for group in groups:
                 if group["name"] == hg:
                     self.group_ids.append({"groupid": group["groupid"]})
-                    e = f"Host {self.name}: matched group \"{group['name']}\" (ID:{group['groupid']})"
+                    e = (
+                        f"Host {self.name}: matched group "
+                        f"\"{group['name']}\" (ID:{group['groupid']})"
+                    )
                     self.logger.debug(e)
         if len(self.group_ids) == len(self.hostgroups):
             return True
@@ -500,7 +503,6 @@ class PhysicalDevice:
                 templateids.append({"templateid": template["templateid"]})
             # Set interface, group and template configuration
             interfaces = self.setInterfaceDetails()
-           
             groups = self.group_ids
             # Set Zabbix proxy if defined
             self.setProxy(proxies)
@@ -702,9 +704,9 @@ class PhysicalDevice:
         if str(self.zabbix.version).startswith(("6", "5")):
             group_dictname = "groups"
         # Check if hostgroups match
-        if (sorted(host[group_dictname], key=itemgetter('groupid')) == 
-             sorted(self.group_ids, key=itemgetter('groupid'))):
-             self.logger.debug(f"Host {self.name}: hostgroups in-sync.")
+        if (sorted(host[group_dictname], key=itemgetter('groupid')) ==
+            sorted(self.group_ids, key=itemgetter('groupid'))):
+            self.logger.debug(f"Host {self.name}: hostgroups in-sync.")
         else:
             self.logger.warning(f"Host {self.name}: hostgroups OUT of sync.")
             self.updateZabbixHost(groups=self.group_ids)
diff --git a/modules/tools.py b/modules/tools.py
index 3f7bf81..0b600c2 100644
--- a/modules/tools.py
+++ b/modules/tools.py
@@ -101,10 +101,14 @@ def remove_duplicates(input_list, sortkey=None):
     return output_list
 
 
-def verify_hg_format(hg_format, device_cfs=[], vm_cfs=[], hg_type="dev", logger=None):
+def verify_hg_format(hg_format, device_cfs=None, vm_cfs=None, hg_type="dev", logger=None):
     """
     Verifies hostgroup field format
     """
+    if not device_cfs:
+        device_cfs = []
+    if not vm_cfs:
+        vm_cfs = []
     allowed_objects = {"dev": ["location",
                               "rack",
                               "role",
@@ -130,9 +134,9 @@ def verify_hg_format(hg_format, device_cfs=[], vm_cfs=[], hg_type="dev", logger=
                        ,"cfs": {"dev": [], "vm": []}
                       }
     for cf in device_cfs:
-        allowed_objects['cfs']['dev'].append(cf.name)  
+        allowed_objects['cfs']['dev'].append(cf.name)
     for cf in vm_cfs:
-        allowed_objects['cfs']['vm'].append(cf.name)  
+        allowed_objects['cfs']['vm'].append(cf.name)
     hg_objects = []
     if isinstance(hg_format,list):
         for f in hg_format:
@@ -185,4 +189,4 @@ def sanatize_log_output(data):
                     continue
                 # A macro is not used, so we sanitize the value.
                 sanitized_data["details"][key] = "********"
-    return sanitized_data
\ No newline at end of file
+    return sanitized_data
diff --git a/netbox_zabbix_sync.py b/netbox_zabbix_sync.py
index afab914..d9ff71b 100755
--- a/netbox_zabbix_sync.py
+++ b/netbox_zabbix_sync.py
@@ -83,12 +83,14 @@ def main(arguments):
     device_cfs = list(
         netbox.extras.custom_fields.filter(type="text", content_types="dcim.device")
     )
-    verify_hg_format(hostgroup_format, device_cfs=device_cfs, hg_type="dev", logger=logger)
-    if sync_vms:
+    verify_hg_format(config["hostgroup_format"],
+                     device_cfs=device_cfs, hg_type="dev", logger=logger)
+    if config["sync_vms"]:
         vm_cfs = list(
-            netbox.extras.custom_fields.filter(type="text", content_types="virtualization.virtualmachine")
+            netbox.extras.custom_fields.filter(type="text",
+                                               content_types="virtualization.virtualmachine")
         )
-        verify_hg_format(vm_hostgroup_format, vm_cfs=vm_cfs, hg_type="vm", logger=logger) 
+        verify_hg_format(config["vm_hostgroup_format"], vm_cfs=vm_cfs, hg_type="vm", logger=logger)
     # Set Zabbix API
     try:
         ssl_ctx = ssl.create_default_context()
@@ -173,7 +175,7 @@ def main(arguments):
             if vm.status in config["zabbix_device_disable"]:
                 vm.zabbix_state = 1
             # Add hostgroup if config is set
-            if create_hostgroups:
+            if config["create_hostgroups"]:
                 # Create new hostgroup. Potentially multiple groups if nested
                 hostgroups = vm.createZabbixHostgroup(zabbix_groups)
                 # go through all newly created hostgroups
@@ -249,7 +251,7 @@ def main(arguments):
             if device.status in config["zabbix_device_disable"]:
                 device.zabbix_state = 1
             # Add hostgroup is config is set
-            if create_hostgroups:
+            if config["create_hostgroups"]:
                 # Create new hostgroup. Potentially multiple groups if nested
                 hostgroups = device.createZabbixHostgroup(zabbix_groups)
                 # go through all newly created hostgroups