diff --git a/flower-field/flower_field.py b/flower-field/flower_field.py
index 5a14fe4..f80d09e 100644
--- a/flower-field/flower_field.py
+++ b/flower-field/flower_field.py
@@ -159,12 +159,9 @@ def _validate(garden: list[str]):
         other than space or ``*``.
     """
     garden_length = len(garden[0])
-    # when the board receives malformed input
     for row in garden:
+        # when the board receives malformed input
         # garden is not a rectangle due to inconsistent row length
-        if len(row) != garden_length:
-            raise ValueError("The board is invalid with current input.")
-        # contains invalid chars inside row
-        valid_chars = all(char in " *" for char in row)
-        if not valid_chars:
+        # or contains invalid chars inside the row
+        if len(row) != garden_length or not all(char in " *" for char in row):
             raise ValueError("The board is invalid with current input.")