diff --git a/api/v1/ratelimitpolicy_types.go b/api/v1/ratelimitpolicy_types.go
index 4c47f9d66..d0121c85f 100644
--- a/api/v1/ratelimitpolicy_types.go
+++ b/api/v1/ratelimitpolicy_types.go
@@ -202,7 +202,8 @@ type RateLimitPolicySpecProper struct {
 	MergeableWhenPredicates `json:""`
 
 	// Limits holds the struct of limits indexed by a unique name
-	// +optional
+	// +kubebuilder:validation:Required
+	// +kubebuilder:validation:MinProperties=1
 	Limits map[string]Limit `json:"limits,omitempty"`
 }
 
diff --git a/bundle/manifests/kuadrant-operator.clusterserviceversion.yaml b/bundle/manifests/kuadrant-operator.clusterserviceversion.yaml
index d58540342..da33f9f14 100644
--- a/bundle/manifests/kuadrant-operator.clusterserviceversion.yaml
+++ b/bundle/manifests/kuadrant-operator.clusterserviceversion.yaml
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ metadata:
     capabilities: Basic Install
     categories: Integration & Delivery
     containerImage: quay.io/kuadrant/kuadrant-operator:latest
-    createdAt: "2024-11-13T16:31:14Z"
+    createdAt: "2024-11-14T16:40:13Z"
     description: A Kubernetes Operator to manage the lifecycle of the Kuadrant system
     operators.operatorframework.io/builder: operator-sdk-v1.32.0
     operators.operatorframework.io/project_layout: go.kubebuilder.io/v3
diff --git a/bundle/manifests/kuadrant.io_ratelimitpolicies.yaml b/bundle/manifests/kuadrant.io_ratelimitpolicies.yaml
index a35db04e4..439c1886b 100644
--- a/bundle/manifests/kuadrant.io_ratelimitpolicies.yaml
+++ b/bundle/manifests/kuadrant.io_ratelimitpolicies.yaml
@@ -138,6 +138,7 @@ spec:
                       type: object
                     description: Limits holds the struct of limits indexed by a unique
                       name
+                    minProperties: 1
                     type: object
                   strategy:
                     default: atomic
@@ -163,6 +164,8 @@ spec:
                       - predicate
                       type: object
                     type: array
+                required:
+                - limits
                 type: object
               limits:
                 additionalProperties:
@@ -225,6 +228,7 @@ spec:
                   type: object
                 description: Limits holds the struct of limits indexed by a unique
                   name
+                minProperties: 1
                 type: object
               overrides:
                 description: |-
@@ -293,6 +297,7 @@ spec:
                       type: object
                     description: Limits holds the struct of limits indexed by a unique
                       name
+                    minProperties: 1
                     type: object
                   strategy:
                     default: atomic
@@ -318,6 +323,8 @@ spec:
                       - predicate
                       type: object
                     type: array
+                required:
+                - limits
                 type: object
               targetRef:
                 description: Reference to the object to which this policy applies.
@@ -383,6 +390,7 @@ spec:
                   type: object
                 type: array
             required:
+            - limits
             - targetRef
             type: object
             x-kubernetes-validations:
diff --git a/charts/kuadrant-operator/templates/manifests.yaml b/charts/kuadrant-operator/templates/manifests.yaml
index db39b9336..34a2fae82 100644
--- a/charts/kuadrant-operator/templates/manifests.yaml
+++ b/charts/kuadrant-operator/templates/manifests.yaml
@@ -7740,6 +7740,7 @@ spec:
                       type: object
                     description: Limits holds the struct of limits indexed by a unique
                       name
+                    minProperties: 1
                     type: object
                   strategy:
                     default: atomic
@@ -7765,6 +7766,8 @@ spec:
                       - predicate
                       type: object
                     type: array
+                required:
+                - limits
                 type: object
               limits:
                 additionalProperties:
@@ -7827,6 +7830,7 @@ spec:
                   type: object
                 description: Limits holds the struct of limits indexed by a unique
                   name
+                minProperties: 1
                 type: object
               overrides:
                 description: |-
@@ -7895,6 +7899,7 @@ spec:
                       type: object
                     description: Limits holds the struct of limits indexed by a unique
                       name
+                    minProperties: 1
                     type: object
                   strategy:
                     default: atomic
@@ -7920,6 +7925,8 @@ spec:
                       - predicate
                       type: object
                     type: array
+                required:
+                - limits
                 type: object
               targetRef:
                 description: Reference to the object to which this policy applies.
@@ -7985,6 +7992,7 @@ spec:
                   type: object
                 type: array
             required:
+            - limits
             - targetRef
             type: object
             x-kubernetes-validations:
diff --git a/config/crd/bases/kuadrant.io_ratelimitpolicies.yaml b/config/crd/bases/kuadrant.io_ratelimitpolicies.yaml
index 9dbab91d8..cda68f0e2 100644
--- a/config/crd/bases/kuadrant.io_ratelimitpolicies.yaml
+++ b/config/crd/bases/kuadrant.io_ratelimitpolicies.yaml
@@ -137,6 +137,7 @@ spec:
                       type: object
                     description: Limits holds the struct of limits indexed by a unique
                       name
+                    minProperties: 1
                     type: object
                   strategy:
                     default: atomic
@@ -162,6 +163,8 @@ spec:
                       - predicate
                       type: object
                     type: array
+                required:
+                - limits
                 type: object
               limits:
                 additionalProperties:
@@ -224,6 +227,7 @@ spec:
                   type: object
                 description: Limits holds the struct of limits indexed by a unique
                   name
+                minProperties: 1
                 type: object
               overrides:
                 description: |-
@@ -292,6 +296,7 @@ spec:
                       type: object
                     description: Limits holds the struct of limits indexed by a unique
                       name
+                    minProperties: 1
                     type: object
                   strategy:
                     default: atomic
@@ -317,6 +322,8 @@ spec:
                       - predicate
                       type: object
                     type: array
+                required:
+                - limits
                 type: object
               targetRef:
                 description: Reference to the object to which this policy applies.
@@ -382,6 +389,7 @@ spec:
                   type: object
                 type: array
             required:
+            - limits
             - targetRef
             type: object
             x-kubernetes-validations: