diff --git a/magnum/api/controllers/v1/baymodel.py b/magnum/api/controllers/v1/baymodel.py
index 0628a45cd5..592a6537c8 100644
--- a/magnum/api/controllers/v1/baymodel.py
+++ b/magnum/api/controllers/v1/baymodel.py
@@ -62,7 +62,8 @@ class BayModel(base.APIBase):
     coe = wsme.wsproperty(wtypes.text, _get_coe, _set_coe, mandatory=True)
     """The Container Orchestration Engine for this bay model"""
 
-    image_id = wtypes.StringType(min_length=1, max_length=255)
+    image_id = wsme.wsattr(wtypes.StringType(min_length=1, max_length=255),
+                           mandatory=True)
     """The image name or UUID to use as a base image for this baymodel"""
 
     flavor_id = wtypes.StringType(min_length=1, max_length=255)
diff --git a/magnum/tests/unit/api/controllers/v1/test_baymodel.py b/magnum/tests/unit/api/controllers/v1/test_baymodel.py
index 6a64a1a5d7..1649fdb148 100644
--- a/magnum/tests/unit/api/controllers/v1/test_baymodel.py
+++ b/magnum/tests/unit/api/controllers/v1/test_baymodel.py
@@ -499,6 +499,12 @@ class TestPost(api_base.FunctionalTest):
         response = self.post_json('/baymodels', cdict, expect_errors=True)
         self.assertEqual(409, response.status_int)
 
+    def test_create_baymodel_without_image_id(self):
+        cdict = apiutils.baymodel_post_data()
+        del cdict['image_id']
+        response = self.post_json('/baymodels', cdict, expect_errors=True)
+        self.assertEqual(400, response.status_int)
+
 
 class TestDelete(api_base.FunctionalTest):