diff --git a/handler_test.go b/handler_test.go
index 8cc734b23..853d05cd0 100644
--- a/handler_test.go
+++ b/handler_test.go
@@ -1319,7 +1319,7 @@ func TestHandler_GetInputDefinition(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected body: %s, expect: %s", body, string(expect))
 	}
 
-	// Check nonexistant definition.
+	// Check nonexistent definition.
 	w = httptest.NewRecorder()
 	h.ServeHTTP(w, MustNewHTTPRequest("GET", "/index/i0/input-definition/foo", strings.NewReader("")))
 	if w.Code != http.StatusNotFound {
@@ -1439,7 +1439,7 @@ func TestHandler_CreateInput(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected body: %s, expect: %s", body, pilosa.ErrIndexNotFound)
 	}
 
-	// Check nonexistant definition.
+	// Check nonexistent definition.
 	w = httptest.NewRecorder()
 	h.ServeHTTP(w, MustNewHTTPRequest("POST", "/index/i0/input/input2", bytes.NewBuffer(inputBody)))
 	if w.Code != http.StatusNotFound {
diff --git a/input_definition.go b/input_definition.go
index c0f468b55..0e5375507 100644
--- a/input_definition.go
+++ b/input_definition.go
@@ -278,13 +278,9 @@ func (i *InputDefinitionInfo) Validate(columnLabel string) error {
 
 	// Validate columnLabel and duplicate primaryKey.
 	for _, field := range i.Fields {
-		if field.PrimaryKey {
-			numPrimaryKey++
-			if field.Name != columnLabel {
-				return ErrInputDefinitionColumnLabel
-			}
-		}
+		var actionCount int
 		for _, action := range field.Actions {
+			actionCount++
 			if err := action.Validate(); err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
@@ -299,6 +295,14 @@ func (i *InputDefinitionInfo) Validate(columnLabel string) error {
 				accountRowID[action.Frame] = convert(action.RowID)
 			}
 		}
+		if field.PrimaryKey {
+			numPrimaryKey++
+			if field.Name != columnLabel {
+				return ErrInputDefinitionColumnLabel
+			}
+		} else if actionCount == 0 {
+			return ErrInputDefinitionActionRequired
+		}
 	}
 
 	if len(i.Fields) > 0 && numPrimaryKey == 0 {
diff --git a/input_definition_test.go b/input_definition_test.go
index c395b0630..9a7b6f706 100644
--- a/input_definition_test.go
+++ b/input_definition_test.go
@@ -180,6 +180,14 @@ func TestActionValidation(t *testing.T) {
 	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "duplicate rowID with other field") {
 		t.Fatalf("Expected duplicate rowID with other field error, actual error: %s", err)
 	}
+
+	field = pilosa.InputDefinitionField{Name: "id", PrimaryKey: true}
+	field1 = pilosa.InputDefinitionField{Name: "test", PrimaryKey: false}
+	info = pilosa.InputDefinitionInfo{Frames: []pilosa.InputFrame{frame}, Fields: []pilosa.InputDefinitionField{field, field1}}
+	err = info.Validate("id")
+	if err != pilosa.ErrInputDefinitionActionRequired {
+		t.Fatalf("Expect error: %s, actual err: %s", pilosa.ErrInputDefinitionActionRequired, err)
+	}
 }
 
 func TestHandleAction(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/pilosa.go b/pilosa.go
index 228a27fd2..943b67a3a 100644
--- a/pilosa.go
+++ b/pilosa.go
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ var (
 	ErrInputDefinitionNameRequired   = errors.New("input-definition name required")
 	ErrInputDefinitionAttrsRequired  = errors.New("frames and fields are required")
 	ErrInputDefinitionValueMap       = errors.New("valueMap required for map")
+	ErrInputDefinitionActionRequired = errors.New("field definitions require an action")
 
 	ErrFieldNameRequired       = errors.New("field name required")
 	ErrInvalidFieldType        = errors.New("invalid field type")