diff --git a/plugins/cron/cron.go b/plugins/cron/cron.go
index 5768065a3..8013debe1 100644
--- a/plugins/cron/cron.go
+++ b/plugins/cron/cron.go
@@ -64,8 +64,9 @@ func (t TemplateCommand) CronCommand() string {
 
 // FetchCronEntriesInput is the input for the FetchCronEntries function
 type FetchCronEntriesInput struct {
-	AppName string
-	AppJSON *appjson.AppJSON
+	AppName       string
+	AppJSON       *appjson.AppJSON
+	WarnToFailure bool
 }
 
 // FetchCronEntries returns a list of cron commands for a given app
@@ -89,11 +90,19 @@ func FetchCronEntries(input FetchCronEntriesInput) ([]TemplateCommand, error) {
 
 	for i, c := range input.AppJSON.Cron {
 		if c.Command == "" {
+			if input.WarnToFailure {
+				return commands, fmt.Errorf("Missing cron command for app %s (index %d)", appName, i)
+			}
+
 			common.LogWarn(fmt.Sprintf("Missing cron command for app %s (index %d)", appName, i))
 			continue
 		}
 
 		if c.Schedule == "" {
+			if input.WarnToFailure {
+				return commands, fmt.Errorf("Missing cron schedule for app %s (index %d)", appName, i)
+			}
+
 			common.LogWarn(fmt.Sprintf("Missing cron schedule for app %s (index %d)", appName, i))
 			continue
 		}
diff --git a/plugins/cron/triggers.go b/plugins/cron/triggers.go
index a0f192e74..499405913 100644
--- a/plugins/cron/triggers.go
+++ b/plugins/cron/triggers.go
@@ -35,7 +35,11 @@ func TriggerAppJSONIsValid(appName string, appJSONPath string) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	_, err = FetchCronEntries(FetchCronEntriesInput{AppName: appName, AppJSON: &appJSON})
+	_, err = FetchCronEntries(FetchCronEntriesInput{
+		AppName:       appName,
+		AppJSON:       &appJSON,
+		WarnToFailure: true,
+	})
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}