diff --git a/adafruit_portalbase/network.py b/adafruit_portalbase/network.py
index 6437b72..b500dc2 100755
--- a/adafruit_portalbase/network.py
+++ b/adafruit_portalbase/network.py
@@ -386,6 +386,21 @@ def connect(self, max_attempts=10):
                         "'networks' must be a list/tuple of dicts of 'ssid' and 'password'"
                     )
 
+            self._wifi_credentials = list(
+                filter(
+                    lambda credentials: isinstance(credentials, dict)
+                    and "ssid" in credentials
+                    and "password" in credentials
+                    and isinstance(credentials["ssid"], str)
+                    and isinstance(credentials["password"], str)
+                    and len(credentials["ssid"]),
+                    self._wifi_credentials,
+                )
+            )
+            if not len(self._wifi_credentials):
+                self._wifi_credentials = None
+                raise OSError("No wifi credentials provided")
+
         for credentials in self._wifi_credentials:
             self._wifi.neo_status(STATUS_CONNECTING)
             attempt = 1
diff --git a/tests/test_get_settings.py b/tests/test_get_settings.py
index d316cd0..b6e220b 100644
--- a/tests/test_get_settings.py
+++ b/tests/test_get_settings.py
@@ -125,3 +125,15 @@ def test_value_stored(settings_toml_current):
     with mock.patch("os.getenv", return_value="test") as mock_getenv:
         assert network._get_setting("ADAFRUIT_AIO_KEY") == "test"
     mock_getenv.assert_not_called()
+
+
+def test_invalid_wifi_credentials():
+    for key in ("CIRCUITPY_WIFI_SSID", "CIRCUITPY_WIFI_PASSWORD"):
+        if os.getenv(key) is not None and os.getenv(key) != "":
+            assert False
+    network = NetworkBase(None)
+    try:
+        network.connect()
+        assert False
+    except OSError:
+        assert True