diff --git a/plugins/common/common.go b/plugins/common/common.go
index 17832f43c..83f4f1555 100644
--- a/plugins/common/common.go
+++ b/plugins/common/common.go
@@ -573,7 +573,7 @@ func IsValidAppName(appName string) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("APP must not be null")
 	}
 
-	r, _ := regexp.Compile("^[a-z0-9].*")
+	r, _ := regexp.Compile("^[a-z0-9][^:A-Z]*$")
 	if r.MatchString(appName) {
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -583,7 +583,7 @@ func IsValidAppName(appName string) error {
 		os.RemoveAll(appRoot)
 	}
 
-	return errors.New("App name must begin with lowercase alphanumeric character")
+	return errors.New("App name must begin with lowercase alphanumeric character, and cannot include uppercase characters or colons")
 }
 
 // VerifyAppName verifies app name format and app existence"