diff --git a/plugins/network-elements/juniper-contrail/src/org/apache/cloudstack/network/contrail/api/command/CreateServiceInstanceCmd.java b/plugins/network-elements/juniper-contrail/src/org/apache/cloudstack/network/contrail/api/command/CreateServiceInstanceCmd.java
index 62ab317ed30..9d0e942bd0e 100644
--- a/plugins/network-elements/juniper-contrail/src/org/apache/cloudstack/network/contrail/api/command/CreateServiceInstanceCmd.java
+++ b/plugins/network-elements/juniper-contrail/src/org/apache/cloudstack/network/contrail/api/command/CreateServiceInstanceCmd.java
@@ -90,7 +90,8 @@ public class CreateServiceInstanceCmd extends BaseAsyncCreateCmd {
             description = "The service offering ID that defines the resources consumed by the service appliance")
     private Long serviceOfferingId;
 
-    @Parameter(name = ApiConstants.NAME, type = CommandType.STRING)
+    @Parameter(name = ApiConstants.NAME, type = CommandType.STRING,
+               required = true, description = "The name of the service instance")
     private String name;
     
     /// Implementation
@@ -126,6 +127,10 @@ public class CreateServiceInstanceCmd extends BaseAsyncCreateCmd {
                 throw new InvalidParameterValueException("Invalid ID for right network " + rightNetworkId);
             }
 
+            if (name.isEmpty()) {
+                throw new InvalidParameterValueException("service instance name is empty");
+            }
+
             ServiceVirtualMachine svm = _vrouterService.createServiceInstance(zone, owner, template, serviceOffering,
                                                                               name, left, right);
             if (svm == null) {