diff --git a/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/instances/QInstanceValidator.java b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/instances/QInstanceValidator.java
index 8d90492a..2aa8af98 100644
--- a/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/instances/QInstanceValidator.java
+++ b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/instances/QInstanceValidator.java
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.reporting.QReportView;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.security.FieldSecurityLock;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.security.RecordSecurityLock;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.tables.AssociatedScript;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.tables.Association;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.tables.QFieldSection;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.tables.QTableMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.tables.Tier;
@@ -456,12 +457,38 @@ public class QInstanceValidator
             validateAssociatedScripts(table);
             validateTableCacheOf(qInstance, table);
             validateTableRecordSecurityLocks(qInstance, table);
+            validateTableAssociations(qInstance, table);
          });
       }
    }
 
 
 
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   private void validateTableAssociations(QInstance qInstance, QTableMetaData table)
+   {
+      for(Association association : CollectionUtils.nonNullList(table.getAssociations()))
+      {
+         if(assertCondition(StringUtils.hasContent(association.getName()), "missing a name for an Association on table " + table.getName()))
+         {
+            String messageSuffix = " for Association " + association.getName() + " on table " + table.getName();
+            if(assertCondition(StringUtils.hasContent(association.getAssociatedTableName()), "missing associatedTableName" + messageSuffix))
+            {
+               assertCondition(qInstance.getTable(association.getAssociatedTableName()) != null, "unrecognized associatedTableName " + association.getAssociatedTableName() + messageSuffix);
+            }
+
+            if(assertCondition(StringUtils.hasContent(association.getJoinName()), "missing joinName" + messageSuffix))
+            {
+               assertCondition(qInstance.getJoin(association.getJoinName()) != null, "unrecognized joinName " + association.getJoinName() + messageSuffix);
+            }
+         }
+      }
+   }
+
+
+
    /*******************************************************************************
     **
     *******************************************************************************/
diff --git a/qqq-backend-core/src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/instances/QInstanceValidatorTest.java b/qqq-backend-core/src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/instances/QInstanceValidatorTest.java
index 0bedf9ae..9a34908a 100644
--- a/qqq-backend-core/src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/instances/QInstanceValidatorTest.java
+++ b/qqq-backend-core/src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/instances/QInstanceValidatorTest.java
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.reporting.QReportMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.security.FieldSecurityLock;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.security.QSecurityKeyType;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.security.RecordSecurityLock;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.tables.Association;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.tables.QFieldSection;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.tables.QTableMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.tables.Tier;
@@ -1628,6 +1629,31 @@ class QInstanceValidatorTest extends BaseTest
 
 
 
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Test
+   void testAssociations()
+   {
+      assertValidationFailureReasons((qInstance -> qInstance.getTable(TestUtils.TABLE_NAME_ORDER).withAssociation(new Association())),
+         "missing a name for an Association on table " + TestUtils.TABLE_NAME_ORDER);
+
+      assertValidationFailureReasons((qInstance -> qInstance.getTable(TestUtils.TABLE_NAME_ORDER).withAssociation(new Association().withName("myAssociation"))),
+         "missing joinName for Association myAssociation on table " + TestUtils.TABLE_NAME_ORDER,
+         "missing associatedTableName for Association myAssociation on table " + TestUtils.TABLE_NAME_ORDER
+      );
+
+      assertValidationFailureReasons((qInstance -> qInstance.getTable(TestUtils.TABLE_NAME_ORDER).withAssociation(new Association().withName("myAssociation").withJoinName("notAJoin").withAssociatedTableName(TestUtils.TABLE_NAME_LINE_ITEM))),
+         "unrecognized joinName notAJoin for Association myAssociation on table " + TestUtils.TABLE_NAME_ORDER
+      );
+
+      assertValidationFailureReasons((qInstance -> qInstance.getTable(TestUtils.TABLE_NAME_ORDER).withAssociation(new Association().withName("myAssociation").withJoinName("orderLineItem").withAssociatedTableName("notATable"))),
+         "unrecognized associatedTableName notATable for Association myAssociation on table " + TestUtils.TABLE_NAME_ORDER
+      );
+   }
+
+
+
    /*******************************************************************************
     **
     *******************************************************************************/