diff --git a/pkg/policy/generate/validate.go b/pkg/policy/generate/validate.go
index f54076a74c..010c8d63b4 100644
--- a/pkg/policy/generate/validate.go
+++ b/pkg/policy/generate/validate.go
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ func (g *Generate) Validate(ctx context.Context) (string, error) {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("only one of clone or cloneList can be specified")
 	}
 
-	kind, name, namespace := rule.Kind, rule.Name, rule.Namespace
+	apiVersion, kind, name, namespace := rule.ResourceSpec.GetAPIVersion(), rule.ResourceSpec.GetKind(), rule.ResourceSpec.GetName(), rule.ResourceSpec.GetNamespace()
 
 	if len(rule.CloneList.Kinds) == 0 {
 		if name == "" {
@@ -55,6 +55,9 @@ func (g *Generate) Validate(ctx context.Context) (string, error) {
 		if kind == "" {
 			return "kind", fmt.Errorf("kind cannot be empty")
 		}
+		if apiVersion == "" {
+			return "apiVersion", fmt.Errorf("apiVersion cannot be empty")
+		}
 	} else {
 		if name != "" {
 			return "name", fmt.Errorf("with cloneList, generate.name. should not be specified")
diff --git a/pkg/policy/generate/validate_test.go b/pkg/policy/generate/validate_test.go
index c1a7484e74..3b2a13a2d5 100644
--- a/pkg/policy/generate/validate_test.go
+++ b/pkg/policy/generate/validate_test.go
@@ -35,9 +35,9 @@ func Test_Validate_Generate(t *testing.T) {
 	err := json.Unmarshal(rawGenerate, &genRule)
 	assert.NilError(t, err)
 	checker := NewFakeGenerate(genRule)
-	if _, err := checker.Validate(context.TODO()); err != nil {
-		assert.Assert(t, err != nil)
-	}
+	_, err = checker.Validate(context.TODO())
+	t.Log(err)
+	assert.Assert(t, err != nil)
 }
 
 func Test_Validate_Generate_HasAnchors(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/test/conformance/kuttl/generate/clusterpolicy/cornercases/clone-role-and-rolebinding/01-manifests.yaml b/test/conformance/kuttl/generate/clusterpolicy/cornercases/clone-role-and-rolebinding/01-manifests.yaml
index f13d131c34..fd7e27fc14 100644
--- a/test/conformance/kuttl/generate/clusterpolicy/cornercases/clone-role-and-rolebinding/01-manifests.yaml
+++ b/test/conformance/kuttl/generate/clusterpolicy/cornercases/clone-role-and-rolebinding/01-manifests.yaml
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ spec:
     generate:
         kind: Role
         name: ns-role
+        apiVersion: rbac.authorization.k8s.io/v1
         namespace: "{{request.object.metadata.name}}"
         synchronize: true
         clone:
@@ -52,6 +53,7 @@ spec:
     generate:
         kind: RoleBinding
         name: ns-role-binding
+        apiVersion: rbac.authorization.k8s.io/v1
         namespace: "{{request.object.metadata.name}}"
         synchronize: true
         clone:
diff --git a/test/conformance/kuttl/generate/clusterpolicy/cornercases/data-role-and-rolebinding/01-manifests.yaml b/test/conformance/kuttl/generate/clusterpolicy/cornercases/data-role-and-rolebinding/01-manifests.yaml
index c09729c4a1..63801108fa 100644
--- a/test/conformance/kuttl/generate/clusterpolicy/cornercases/data-role-and-rolebinding/01-manifests.yaml
+++ b/test/conformance/kuttl/generate/clusterpolicy/cornercases/data-role-and-rolebinding/01-manifests.yaml
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ spec:
     generate:
         kind: Role
         name: ns-role
+        apiVersion: rbac.authorization.k8s.io/v1
         namespace: "{{request.object.metadata.name}}"
         synchronize: true
         data:
@@ -30,6 +31,7 @@ spec:
     generate:
         kind: RoleBinding
         name: ns-role-binding
+        apiVersion: rbac.authorization.k8s.io/v1
         namespace: "{{request.object.metadata.name}}"
         synchronize: true
         data: