diff --git a/plugins/nginx-vhosts/command-functions b/plugins/nginx-vhosts/command-functions
index 7a648d60d..1fda16313 100755
--- a/plugins/nginx-vhosts/command-functions
+++ b/plugins/nginx-vhosts/command-functions
@@ -112,6 +112,5 @@ cmd-nginx-validate-config() {
   fi
   declare APP="$1" FLAG="$2"
 
-  verify_app_name "$APP"
   validate_nginx "$APP" "$FLAG"
 }
diff --git a/plugins/nginx-vhosts/functions b/plugins/nginx-vhosts/functions
index 0fc279088..23c60b27a 100755
--- a/plugins/nginx-vhosts/functions
+++ b/plugins/nginx-vhosts/functions
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ validate_nginx() {
   fi
 
   if [[ -n "$APP" ]]; then
+    verify_app_name "$APP"
     nginx_vhosts_validate_single_func "$APP" "$FLAG"
   else
     for app in $(dokku_apps); do