diff --git a/src/groups.js b/src/groups.js
index b8aa5f609..67550e19e 100644
--- a/src/groups.js
+++ b/src/groups.js
@@ -48,6 +48,8 @@ function validateGroupname(name) {
     if (name.length <= 2) return new GroupError(GroupError.BAD_NAME, 'name must be atleast 3 chars');
     if (name.length >= 200) return new GroupError(GroupError.BAD_NAME, 'name too long');
 
+    if (!/^[A-Za-z0-9_-]*$/.test(name)) return new GroupError(GroupError.BAD_NAME, 'name can only have A-Za-z0-9_-');
+
     return null;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/test/group-test.js b/src/test/group-test.js
index 3ad60e2dd..dbdaced7f 100644
--- a/src/test/group-test.js
+++ b/src/test/group-test.js
@@ -46,6 +46,13 @@ describe('Groups', function () {
         });
     });
 
+    it('cannot create group - bad name', function (done) {
+        groups.create('bad:name', function (error) {
+            expect(error.reason).to.be(GroupError.BAD_NAME);
+            done();
+        });
+    });
+
     it('can create valid group', function (done) {
         groups.create(GROUP_NAME, function (error) {
             expect(error).to.be(null);