diff --git a/app/v2/broadcast/broadcast_schemas.py b/app/v2/broadcast/broadcast_schemas.py
index 67886507e..99dd572d7 100644
--- a/app/v2/broadcast/broadcast_schemas.py
+++ b/app/v2/broadcast/broadcast_schemas.py
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ post_broadcast_schema = {
             "properties": {
                 "name": {
                     "type": "string",
+                    "pattern": "([a-zA-Z1-9]+ )*[a-zA-Z1-9]+",
                 },
                 "polygons": {
                     "type": "array",
diff --git a/tests/app/v2/broadcast/sample_cap_xml_documents.py b/tests/app/v2/broadcast/sample_cap_xml_documents.py
index a8a0b8cab..a17691e63 100644
--- a/tests/app/v2/broadcast/sample_cap_xml_documents.py
+++ b/tests/app/v2/broadcast/sample_cap_xml_documents.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+import re
+
 WAINFLEET = """
     <alert xmlns="urn:oasis:names:tc:emergency:cap:1.2">
         <identifier>50385fcb0ab7aa447bbd46d848ce8466E</identifier>
@@ -235,3 +237,4 @@ WITH_PLACEHOLDER_FOR_CONTENT = """
 
 LONG_GSM7 = WITH_PLACEHOLDER_FOR_CONTENT.format('a' * 1396)
 LONG_UCS2 = WITH_PLACEHOLDER_FOR_CONTENT.format('ŵ' * 616)
+MISSING_AREA_NAMES = re.sub("<areaDesc>.*</areaDesc>", "<areaDesc> </areaDesc>", WAINFLEET)
diff --git a/tests/app/v2/broadcast/test_post_broadcast.py b/tests/app/v2/broadcast/test_post_broadcast.py
index fbfe9ae7e..aa70ca2c7 100644
--- a/tests/app/v2/broadcast/test_post_broadcast.py
+++ b/tests/app/v2/broadcast/test_post_broadcast.py
@@ -229,3 +229,24 @@ def test_content_too_long_returns_400(
         }],
         'status_code': 400,
     }
+
+
+def test_invalid_areas_returns_400(
+    client,
+    sample_broadcast_service
+):
+    auth_header = create_service_authorization_header(service_id=sample_broadcast_service.id)
+    response = client.post(
+        path='/v2/broadcast',
+        data=sample_cap_xml_documents.MISSING_AREA_NAMES,
+        headers=[('Content-Type', 'application/cap+xml'), auth_header],
+    )
+
+    assert json.loads(response.get_data(as_text=True)) == {
+        'errors': [{
+            'error': 'ValidationError',
+            # the blank spaces represent the blank areaDesc in the XML
+            'message': 'areas   does not match ([a-zA-Z1-9]+ )*[a-zA-Z1-9]+',
+        }],
+        'status_code': 400,
+    }