diff --git a/api/v1/ratelimitpolicy_types.go b/api/v1/ratelimitpolicy_types.go
index 4c47f9d66..aadc7c3f8 100644
--- a/api/v1/ratelimitpolicy_types.go
+++ b/api/v1/ratelimitpolicy_types.go
@@ -153,6 +153,9 @@ func (p *RateLimitPolicy) Kind() string {
 // +kubebuilder:validation:XValidation:rule="!(has(self.defaults) && has(self.limits))",message="Implicit and explicit defaults are mutually exclusive"
 // +kubebuilder:validation:XValidation:rule="!(has(self.defaults) && has(self.overrides))",message="Overrides and explicit defaults are mutually exclusive"
 // +kubebuilder:validation:XValidation:rule="!(has(self.overrides) && has(self.limits))",message="Overrides and implicit defaults are mutually exclusive"
+// +kubebuilder:validation:XValidation:rule="!(has(self.overrides) || has(self.defaults)) ? has(self.limits) && size(self.limits) > 0 : true",message="At least one spec.limits must be defined"
+// +kubebuilder:validation:XValidation:rule="has(self.overrides) ? has(self.overrides.limits) && size(self.overrides.limits) > 0 : true",message="At least one spec.overrides.limits must be defined"
+// +kubebuilder:validation:XValidation:rule="has(self.defaults) ? has(self.defaults.limits) && size(self.defaults.limits) > 0 : true",message="At least one spec.defaults.limits must be defined"
 type RateLimitPolicySpec struct {
 	// Reference to the object to which this policy applies.
 	// +kubebuilder:validation:XValidation:rule="self.group == 'gateway.networking.k8s.io'",message="Invalid targetRef.group. The only supported value is 'gateway.networking.k8s.io'"
diff --git a/bundle/manifests/kuadrant-operator.clusterserviceversion.yaml b/bundle/manifests/kuadrant-operator.clusterserviceversion.yaml
index d58540342..6e82e5b49 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: "2024-11-18T10:54:46Z"
     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..e1b4e85af 100644
--- a/bundle/manifests/kuadrant.io_ratelimitpolicies.yaml
+++ b/bundle/manifests/kuadrant.io_ratelimitpolicies.yaml
@@ -392,6 +392,15 @@ spec:
               rule: '!(has(self.defaults) && has(self.overrides))'
             - message: Overrides and implicit defaults are mutually exclusive
               rule: '!(has(self.overrides) && has(self.limits))'
+            - message: At least one spec.limits must be defined
+              rule: '!(has(self.overrides) || has(self.defaults)) ? has(self.limits)
+                && size(self.limits) > 0 : true'
+            - message: At least one spec.overrides.limits must be defined
+              rule: 'has(self.overrides) ? has(self.overrides.limits) && size(self.overrides.limits)
+                > 0 : true'
+            - message: At least one spec.defaults.limits must be defined
+              rule: 'has(self.defaults) ? has(self.defaults.limits) && size(self.defaults.limits)
+                > 0 : true'
           status:
             properties:
               conditions:
diff --git a/charts/kuadrant-operator/templates/manifests.yaml b/charts/kuadrant-operator/templates/manifests.yaml
index db39b9336..36a1019f0 100644
--- a/charts/kuadrant-operator/templates/manifests.yaml
+++ b/charts/kuadrant-operator/templates/manifests.yaml
@@ -7994,6 +7994,15 @@ spec:
               rule: '!(has(self.defaults) && has(self.overrides))'
             - message: Overrides and implicit defaults are mutually exclusive
               rule: '!(has(self.overrides) && has(self.limits))'
+            - message: At least one spec.limits must be defined
+              rule: '!(has(self.overrides) || has(self.defaults)) ? has(self.limits)
+                && size(self.limits) > 0 : true'
+            - message: At least one spec.overrides.limits must be defined
+              rule: 'has(self.overrides) ? has(self.overrides.limits) && size(self.overrides.limits)
+                > 0 : true'
+            - message: At least one spec.defaults.limits must be defined
+              rule: 'has(self.defaults) ? has(self.defaults.limits) && size(self.defaults.limits)
+                > 0 : true'
           status:
             properties:
               conditions:
diff --git a/config/crd/bases/kuadrant.io_ratelimitpolicies.yaml b/config/crd/bases/kuadrant.io_ratelimitpolicies.yaml
index 9dbab91d8..4f11d07fe 100644
--- a/config/crd/bases/kuadrant.io_ratelimitpolicies.yaml
+++ b/config/crd/bases/kuadrant.io_ratelimitpolicies.yaml
@@ -391,6 +391,15 @@ spec:
               rule: '!(has(self.defaults) && has(self.overrides))'
             - message: Overrides and implicit defaults are mutually exclusive
               rule: '!(has(self.overrides) && has(self.limits))'
+            - message: At least one spec.limits must be defined
+              rule: '!(has(self.overrides) || has(self.defaults)) ? has(self.limits)
+                && size(self.limits) > 0 : true'
+            - message: At least one spec.overrides.limits must be defined
+              rule: 'has(self.overrides) ? has(self.overrides.limits) && size(self.overrides.limits)
+                > 0 : true'
+            - message: At least one spec.defaults.limits must be defined
+              rule: 'has(self.defaults) ? has(self.defaults.limits) && size(self.defaults.limits)
+                > 0 : true'
           status:
             properties:
               conditions:
diff --git a/tests/common/ratelimitpolicy/ratelimitpolicy_controller_test.go b/tests/common/ratelimitpolicy/ratelimitpolicy_controller_test.go
index 7ba2a736d..55d905470 100644
--- a/tests/common/ratelimitpolicy/ratelimitpolicy_controller_test.go
+++ b/tests/common/ratelimitpolicy/ratelimitpolicy_controller_test.go
@@ -920,7 +920,13 @@ var _ = Describe("RateLimitPolicy CEL Validations", func() {
 
 	Context("Spec TargetRef Validations", func() {
 		It("Valid policy targeting HTTPRoute", func(ctx SpecContext) {
-			policy := policyFactory()
+			policy := policyFactory(func(policy *kuadrantv1.RateLimitPolicy) {
+				policy.Spec.Limits = map[string]kuadrantv1.Limit{
+					"implicit": {
+						Rates: []kuadrantv1.Rate{{Limit: 2, Window: kuadrantv1.Duration("20s")}},
+					},
+				}
+			})
 			err := k8sClient.Create(ctx, policy)
 			Expect(err).To(BeNil())
 		}, testTimeOut)
@@ -928,6 +934,11 @@ var _ = Describe("RateLimitPolicy CEL Validations", func() {
 		It("Valid policy targeting Gateway", func(ctx SpecContext) {
 			policy := policyFactory(func(policy *kuadrantv1.RateLimitPolicy) {
 				policy.Spec.TargetRef.Kind = "Gateway"
+				policy.Spec.Limits = map[string]kuadrantv1.Limit{
+					"implicit": {
+						Rates: []kuadrantv1.Rate{{Limit: 2, Window: kuadrantv1.Duration("20s")}},
+					},
+				}
 			})
 			err := k8sClient.Create(ctx, policy)
 			Expect(err).To(BeNil())
@@ -952,6 +963,85 @@ var _ = Describe("RateLimitPolicy CEL Validations", func() {
 		}, testTimeOut)
 	})
 
+	Context("Limits missing from configuration", func() {
+		It("Missing limits object", func(ctx SpecContext) {
+			policy := policyFactory(func(policy *kuadrantv1.RateLimitPolicy) {
+				policy.Spec.Limits = nil
+			})
+			err := k8sClient.Create(ctx, policy)
+			Expect(err).To(Not(BeNil()))
+			Expect(strings.Contains(err.Error(), "At least one spec.limits must be defined")).To(BeTrue())
+		}, testTimeOut)
+
+		It("Empty limits object created", func(ctx SpecContext) {
+			policy := policyFactory(func(policy *kuadrantv1.RateLimitPolicy) {
+				policy.Spec.Limits = map[string]kuadrantv1.Limit{}
+
+			})
+			err := k8sClient.Create(ctx, policy)
+			Expect(err).To(Not(BeNil()))
+			Expect(strings.Contains(err.Error(), "At least one spec.limits must be defined")).To(BeTrue())
+		}, testTimeOut)
+
+		It("Missing defaults.limits object", func(ctx SpecContext) {
+			policy := policyFactory(func(policy *kuadrantv1.RateLimitPolicy) {
+				policy.Spec.Limits = nil
+				policy.Spec.Defaults = &kuadrantv1.MergeableRateLimitPolicySpec{
+					RateLimitPolicySpecProper: kuadrantv1.RateLimitPolicySpecProper{
+						Limits: nil,
+					},
+				}
+			})
+			err := k8sClient.Create(ctx, policy)
+			Expect(err).To(Not(BeNil()))
+			Expect(strings.Contains(err.Error(), "At least one spec.defaults.limits must be defined")).To(BeTrue())
+		}, testTimeOut)
+
+		It("Empty defaults.limits object created", func(ctx SpecContext) {
+			policy := policyFactory(func(policy *kuadrantv1.RateLimitPolicy) {
+				policy.Spec.Limits = nil
+				policy.Spec.Defaults = &kuadrantv1.MergeableRateLimitPolicySpec{
+					RateLimitPolicySpecProper: kuadrantv1.RateLimitPolicySpecProper{
+						Limits: map[string]kuadrantv1.Limit{},
+					},
+				}
+
+			})
+			err := k8sClient.Create(ctx, policy)
+			Expect(err).To(Not(BeNil()))
+			Expect(strings.Contains(err.Error(), "At least one spec.defaults.limits must be defined")).To(BeTrue())
+		}, testTimeOut)
+
+		It("Missing overrides.limits object", func(ctx SpecContext) {
+			policy := policyFactory(func(policy *kuadrantv1.RateLimitPolicy) {
+				policy.Spec.Limits = nil
+				policy.Spec.Overrides = &kuadrantv1.MergeableRateLimitPolicySpec{
+					RateLimitPolicySpecProper: kuadrantv1.RateLimitPolicySpecProper{
+						Limits: nil,
+					},
+				}
+			})
+			err := k8sClient.Create(ctx, policy)
+			Expect(err).To(Not(BeNil()))
+			Expect(strings.Contains(err.Error(), "At least one spec.overrides.limits must be defined")).To(BeTrue())
+		}, testTimeOut)
+
+		It("Empty overrides.limits object created", func(ctx SpecContext) {
+			policy := policyFactory(func(policy *kuadrantv1.RateLimitPolicy) {
+				policy.Spec.Limits = nil
+				policy.Spec.Overrides = &kuadrantv1.MergeableRateLimitPolicySpec{
+					RateLimitPolicySpecProper: kuadrantv1.RateLimitPolicySpecProper{
+						Limits: map[string]kuadrantv1.Limit{},
+					},
+				}
+
+			})
+			err := k8sClient.Create(ctx, policy)
+			Expect(err).To(Not(BeNil()))
+			Expect(strings.Contains(err.Error(), "At least one spec.overrides.limits must be defined")).To(BeTrue())
+		}, testTimeOut)
+	})
+
 	Context("Defaults / Override validation", func() {
 		It("Valid - only implicit defaults defined", func(ctx SpecContext) {
 			policy := policyFactory(func(policy *kuadrantv1.RateLimitPolicy) {