diff --git a/heat/engine/resources/openstack/nova/server.py b/heat/engine/resources/openstack/nova/server.py
index e1b43633fa..8ebd63c709 100644
--- a/heat/engine/resources/openstack/nova/server.py
+++ b/heat/engine/resources/openstack/nova/server.py
@@ -1269,6 +1269,18 @@ class Server(stack_user.StackUser):
         for network in networks:
             networks_with_port = (networks_with_port or
                                   network.get(self.NETWORK_PORT))
+            if (network.get(self.NETWORK_ID) is None
+                and network.get(self.NETWORK_PORT) is None
+                    and network.get(self.NETWORK_UUID) is None):
+                msg = _('One of the properties "%(id)s", "%(port_id)s", '
+                        '"%(uuid)s" should be set for the '
+                        'specified network of server "%(server)s".'
+                        '') % dict(id=self.NETWORK_ID,
+                                   port_id=self.NETWORK_PORT,
+                                   uuid=self.NETWORK_UUID,
+                                   server=self.name)
+                raise exception.StackValidationFailed(message=msg)
+
             if network.get(self.NETWORK_UUID) and network.get(self.NETWORK_ID):
                 msg = _('Properties "%(uuid)s" and "%(id)s" are both set '
                         'to the network "%(network)s" for the server '
diff --git a/heat/tests/test_server.py b/heat/tests/test_server.py
index 9405449ec6..ebc9a77da0 100644
--- a/heat/tests/test_server.py
+++ b/heat/tests/test_server.py
@@ -1076,6 +1076,111 @@ class ServersTest(common.HeatTestCase):
                       six.text_type(ex))
         self.m.VerifyAll()
 
+    def test_server_validate_with_network_empty_ref(self):
+        stack_name = 'srv_net'
+        (tmpl, stack) = self._setup_test_stack(stack_name)
+        tmpl['Resources']['WebServer']['Properties']['networks'] = (
+            [{'network': ''}])
+
+        resource_defns = tmpl.resource_definitions(stack)
+        server = servers.Server('server_validate_with_networks',
+                                resource_defns['WebServer'], stack)
+
+        self.m.StubOutWithMock(nova.NovaClientPlugin, '_create')
+        nova.NovaClientPlugin._create().AndReturn(self.fc)
+        self._mock_get_image_id_success('F17-x86_64-gold', 'image_id')
+        self.stub_NetworkConstraint_validate()
+        self.m.ReplayAll()
+
+        self.assertIsNone(server.validate())
+        self.m.VerifyAll()
+
+    def test_server_validate_with_only_fixed_ip(self):
+        stack_name = 'srv_net'
+        (tmpl, stack) = self._setup_test_stack(stack_name)
+        # create an server with 'uuid' and 'network' properties
+        tmpl['Resources']['WebServer']['Properties']['networks'] = (
+            [{'fixed_ip': '10.0.0.99'}])
+
+        resource_defns = tmpl.resource_definitions(stack)
+        server = servers.Server('server_validate_with_networks',
+                                resource_defns['WebServer'], stack)
+
+        self.m.StubOutWithMock(nova.NovaClientPlugin, '_create')
+        nova.NovaClientPlugin._create().AndReturn(self.fc)
+        self._mock_get_image_id_success('F17-x86_64-gold', 'image_id')
+        self.stub_NetworkConstraint_validate()
+        self.m.ReplayAll()
+
+        ex = self.assertRaises(exception.StackValidationFailed,
+                               server.validate)
+        self.assertIn(_('One of the properties "network", "port", "uuid" '
+                        'should be set for the specified network of server '
+                        '"%s".') % server.name,
+                      six.text_type(ex))
+        self.m.VerifyAll()
+
+    def test_server_validate_with_port_fixed_ip(self):
+        stack_name = 'srv_net'
+        (tmpl, stack) = self._setup_test_stack(stack_name)
+        tmpl['Resources']['WebServer']['Properties']['networks'] = (
+            [{'port': 'aaaaaaaa-aaaa-aaaa-aaaa-aaaaaaaaaaaa',
+              'fixed_ip': '10.0.0.99'}])
+
+        resource_defns = tmpl.resource_definitions(stack)
+        server = servers.Server('server_validate_with_networks',
+                                resource_defns['WebServer'], stack)
+
+        self.m.StubOutWithMock(nova.NovaClientPlugin, '_create')
+        nova.NovaClientPlugin._create().AndReturn(self.fc)
+        self._mock_get_image_id_success('F17-x86_64-gold', 'image_id')
+        self.stub_NetworkConstraint_validate()
+        self.stub_PortConstraint_validate()
+        self.m.ReplayAll()
+
+        self.assertIsNone(server.validate())
+        self.m.VerifyAll()
+
+    def test_server_validate_with_uuid_fixed_ip(self):
+        stack_name = 'srv_net'
+        (tmpl, stack) = self._setup_test_stack(stack_name)
+        tmpl['Resources']['WebServer']['Properties']['networks'] = (
+            [{'uuid': 'aaaaaaaa-aaaa-aaaa-aaaa-aaaaaaaaaaaa',
+              'fixed_ip': '10.0.0.99'}])
+
+        resource_defns = tmpl.resource_definitions(stack)
+        server = servers.Server('server_validate_with_networks',
+                                resource_defns['WebServer'], stack)
+
+        self.m.StubOutWithMock(nova.NovaClientPlugin, '_create')
+        nova.NovaClientPlugin._create().AndReturn(self.fc)
+        self._mock_get_image_id_success('F17-x86_64-gold', 'image_id')
+        self.stub_NetworkConstraint_validate()
+        self.m.ReplayAll()
+
+        self.assertIsNone(server.validate())
+        self.m.VerifyAll()
+
+    def test_server_validate_with_network_fixed_ip(self):
+        stack_name = 'srv_net'
+        (tmpl, stack) = self._setup_test_stack(stack_name)
+        tmpl['Resources']['WebServer']['Properties']['networks'] = (
+            [{'network': 'public',
+              'fixed_ip': '10.0.0.99'}])
+
+        resource_defns = tmpl.resource_definitions(stack)
+        server = servers.Server('server_validate_with_networks',
+                                resource_defns['WebServer'], stack)
+
+        self.m.StubOutWithMock(nova.NovaClientPlugin, '_create')
+        nova.NovaClientPlugin._create().AndReturn(self.fc)
+        self._mock_get_image_id_success('F17-x86_64-gold', 'image_id')
+        self.stub_NetworkConstraint_validate()
+        self.m.ReplayAll()
+
+        self.assertIsNone(server.validate())
+        self.m.VerifyAll()
+
     def test_server_validate_net_security_groups(self):
         # Test that if network 'ports' are assigned security groups are
         # not, because they'll be ignored