diff --git a/src/node/init/init.ts b/src/node/init/init.ts
index 5b62eeafa0d1..cd8bea82e06c 100644
--- a/src/node/init/init.ts
+++ b/src/node/init/init.ts
@@ -41,9 +41,17 @@ export async function init() {
       root: () =>
         text({
           message: 'Where should VitePress initialize the config?',
+          defaultValue: './',
           initialValue: './',
           validate(value) {
-            // TODO make sure directory is inside
+            const inputRoot = path.resolve(value)
+            const currentRoot = path.resolve()
+            if (!inputRoot.startsWith(currentRoot)) {
+              return 'Please make sure directory is inside'
+            }
+            if (inputRoot != currentRoot && fs.pathExistsSync(inputRoot)) {
+              return `${value} already exists`
+            }
           }
         }),