diff --git a/definitions/install.yaml b/definitions/install.yaml
index d2b2e6cb36..e06d4f49f9 100644
--- a/definitions/install.yaml
+++ b/definitions/install.yaml
@@ -145,13 +145,13 @@ spec:
                               AnyValue: {}
                   validate:
                     type: object
-                    required:
-                    - pattern
                     properties:
                       message:
                         type: string
                       pattern:
                         AnyValue: {}
+                      anyPattern:
+                        AnyValue: {}
                   generate:
                     type: object
                     required:
diff --git a/definitions/install_debug.yaml b/definitions/install_debug.yaml
index 7a7cb7c95d..918da0c354 100644
--- a/definitions/install_debug.yaml
+++ b/definitions/install_debug.yaml
@@ -145,13 +145,13 @@ spec:
                               AnyValue: {}
                   validate:
                     type: object
-                    required:
-                    - pattern
                     properties:
                       message:
                         type: string
                       pattern:
                         AnyValue: {}
+                      anyPattern:
+                        AnyValue: {}
                   generate:
                     type: object
                     required:
diff --git a/pkg/api/kyverno/v1alpha1/types.go b/pkg/api/kyverno/v1alpha1/types.go
index 5597f97e23..bcf813d0d4 100644
--- a/pkg/api/kyverno/v1alpha1/types.go
+++ b/pkg/api/kyverno/v1alpha1/types.go
@@ -68,8 +68,9 @@ type Patch struct {
 
 // Validation describes the way how Validating Webhook will check the resource on creation
 type Validation struct {
-	Message string      `json:"message"`
-	Pattern interface{} `json:"pattern"`
+	Message    string        `json:"message"`
+	Pattern    interface{}   `json:"pattern"`
+	AnyPattern []interface{} `json:"anyPattern"`
 }
 
 // Generation describes which resources will be created when other resource is created
diff --git a/pkg/webhooks/policyvalidation.go b/pkg/webhooks/policyvalidation.go
index abeca02c76..331210a6ac 100644
--- a/pkg/webhooks/policyvalidation.go
+++ b/pkg/webhooks/policyvalidation.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package webhooks
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
+	"reflect"
 
 	"github.com/golang/glog"
 	kyverno "github.com/nirmata/kyverno/pkg/api/kyverno/v1alpha1"
@@ -28,7 +29,7 @@ func (ws *WebhookServer) HandlePolicyValidation(request *v1beta1.AdmissionReques
 	}
 
 	if request.Operation != v1beta1.Delete {
-		admissionResp = ws.validateUniqueRuleName(policy)
+		admissionResp = ws.validatePolicy(policy)
 	}
 
 	if admissionResp.Allowed {
@@ -38,6 +39,32 @@ func (ws *WebhookServer) HandlePolicyValidation(request *v1beta1.AdmissionReques
 	return admissionResp
 }
 
+func (ws *WebhookServer) validatePolicy(policy *kyverno.Policy) *v1beta1.AdmissionResponse {
+	admissionResp := ws.validateUniqueRuleName(policy)
+	if !admissionResp.Allowed {
+		return admissionResp
+	}
+
+	return ws.validateOverlayPattern(policy)
+}
+
+func (ws *WebhookServer) validateOverlayPattern(policy *kyverno.Policy) *v1beta1.AdmissionResponse {
+	for _, rule := range policy.Spec.Rules {
+		if !reflect.DeepEqual(rule.Validation, kyverno.Validation{}) {
+			if rule.Validation.Pattern == nil && rule.Validation.AnyPattern == nil {
+				return &v1beta1.AdmissionResponse{
+					Allowed: false,
+					Result: &metav1.Status{
+						Message: "Invalid policy, either pattern or anyPattern found in policy spec",
+					},
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	return &v1beta1.AdmissionResponse{Allowed: true}
+}
+
 // Verify if the Rule names are unique within a policy
 func (ws *WebhookServer) validateUniqueRuleName(policy *kyverno.Policy) *v1beta1.AdmissionResponse {
 	// =======