Error: Zsh fails to start after restoring corrupted ~/.zshrc in Oh My Zsh

After restoring a backup of the ~/.oh‑my‑zsh directory and ~/.zshrc, the shell often fails to load the configured theme and plugins. The failure manifests as a startup error message from Zsh (e.g., “syntax error near unexpected token”), after which the prompt reverts to a default state. Oh My Zsh does not run an automatic health check following a restore, so users must manually verify that the configuration is syntactically correct and that all components are active.

Because the project relies on manual file copy or third‑party scripts, the restoration process can introduce permission changes or syntax errors that silently break the shell. Ensuring that the restored files retain the original permissions and that the ~/.zshrc contains no syntax errors is critical for a functional environment.

What mechanisms could be integrated into Oh My Zsh to automatically validate the syntax and integrity of ~/.zshrc after a restoration? Which pre‑source checks or tooling can flag errors before the shell starts?