diff --git a/src/backups.js b/src/backups.js
index d45588b32..3a1b0ae5f 100644
--- a/src/backups.js
+++ b/src/backups.js
@@ -144,6 +144,7 @@ function testConfig(backupConfig, callback) {
 
     const policy = backupConfig.retentionPolicy;
     if (!policy) return callback(new BoxError(BoxError.BAD_FIELD, 'retentionPolicy is required', { field: 'retentionPolicy' }));
+    if (!['keepWithinSecs','keepDaily','keepWeekly','keepMonthly','keepYearly'].find(k => !!policy[k])) return callback(new BoxError(BoxError.BAD_FIELD, 'properties missing', { field: 'retentionPolicy' }));
     if ('keepWithinSecs' in policy && typeof policy.keepWithinSecs !== 'number') return callback(new BoxError(BoxError.BAD_FIELD, 'keepWithinSecs must be a number', { field: 'retentionPolicy' }));
     if ('keepDaily' in policy && typeof policy.keepDaily !== 'number') return callback(new BoxError(BoxError.BAD_FIELD, 'keepDaily must be a number', { field: 'retentionPolicy' }));
     if ('keepWeekly' in policy && typeof policy.keepWeekly !== 'number') return callback(new BoxError(BoxError.BAD_FIELD, 'keepWeekly must be a number', { field: 'retentionPolicy' }));