diff --git a/openstack_releases/cmds/validate.py b/openstack_releases/cmds/validate.py
index 4ec775ffdc..fb25a57ec4 100644
--- a/openstack_releases/cmds/validate.py
+++ b/openstack_releases/cmds/validate.py
@@ -115,13 +115,8 @@ def validate_type(deliverable_info, mk_warning, mk_error):
         )
 
 
-def validate_releases(deliverable_info, zuul_layout,
-                      series_name,
-                      workdir,
-                      mk_warning, mk_error):
-    """Apply validation rules to the 'releases' list for the deliverable.
-    """
-
+def get_model(deliverable_info, series_name):
+    "Return the release model from the deliverable info."
     # Determine the release model. Don't require independent
     # projects to redundantly specify that they are independent by
     # including the value in their deliverablefile, but everyone
@@ -132,12 +127,48 @@ def validate_releases(deliverable_info, zuul_layout,
     else:
         release_model = deliverable_info.get('release-model',
                                              'UNSPECIFIED')
+    return release_model
+
+
+def validate_model(deliverable_info, series_name, mk_warning, mk_error):
+    "Require a valid release model"
+    release_model = get_model(deliverable_info, series_name)
     if release_model not in _VALID_MODELS:
         mk_error(
             'Unknown release model %r, must be one of %r' %
             (release_model, sorted(list(_VALID_MODELS)))
         )
 
+    # If the project is release:independent, make sure
+    # that's where the deliverable file is.
+    if release_model == 'independent' and series_name != '_independent':
+        mk_error(
+            'uses the independent release model '
+            'and should be in the _independent '
+            'directory'
+        )
+
+    # If the project is declaring some other release model, make sure
+    # it is not in h the _independent directory.
+    if series_name == '_independent':
+        model_value = deliverable_info.get('release-model',
+                                           'independent')
+        if model_value != 'independent':
+            mk_error(
+                'deliverables in the _independent directory '
+                'should all use the independent release model'
+            )
+
+
+def validate_releases(deliverable_info, zuul_layout,
+                      series_name,
+                      workdir,
+                      mk_warning, mk_error):
+    """Apply validation rules to the 'releases' list for the deliverable.
+    """
+    release_model = get_model(deliverable_info, series_name)
+    is_independent = (release_model == 'independent')
+
     # Remember which entries are new so we can verify that they
     # appear at the end of the file.
     new_releases = {}
@@ -158,16 +189,6 @@ def validate_releases(deliverable_info, zuul_layout,
                     release_type, mk_warning, mk_error,
                 )
 
-            # If the project is release:independent, make sure
-            # that's where the deliverable file is.
-            if is_independent:
-                if series_name != '_independent':
-                    mk_warning(
-                        '%s uses the independent release model '
-                        'and should be in the _independent '
-                        'directory' % project['repo'],
-                    )
-
             # Check the SHA specified for the tag.
             print('%s SHA %s ' % (project['repo'], project['hash']))
 
@@ -378,6 +399,7 @@ def main():
         validate_team(deliverable_info, team_data, mk_warning, mk_error)
         validate_release_notes(deliverable_info, mk_warning, mk_error)
         validate_type(deliverable_info, mk_warning, mk_error)
+        validate_model(deliverable_info, series_name, mk_warning, mk_error)
         validate_releases(
             deliverable_info,
             zuul_layout,
diff --git a/openstack_releases/tests/test_validate.py b/openstack_releases/tests/test_validate.py
index 5bb62a95fc..94907a994e 100644
--- a/openstack_releases/tests/test_validate.py
+++ b/openstack_releases/tests/test_validate.py
@@ -193,3 +193,117 @@ class TestValidateDeliverableType(base.BaseTestCase):
         )
         self.assertEqual(0, len(warnings))
         self.assertEqual(0, len(errors))
+
+
+class TestGetModel(base.BaseTestCase):
+
+    def test_no_model_series(self):
+        self.assertEqual(
+            'UNSPECIFIED',
+            validate.get_model({}, 'ocata'),
+        )
+
+    def test_no_model_independent(self):
+        self.assertEqual(
+            'independent',
+            validate.get_model({}, '_independent'),
+        )
+
+    def test_with_model_independent(self):
+        self.assertEqual(
+            'independent',
+            validate.get_model({'release-model': 'set'}, '_independent'),
+        )
+
+    def test_with_model_series(self):
+        self.assertEqual(
+            'set',
+            validate.get_model({'release-model': 'set'}, 'ocata'),
+        )
+
+
+class TestValidateModel(base.BaseTestCase):
+
+    def test_no_model_series(self):
+        warnings = []
+        errors = []
+        validate.validate_model(
+            {},
+            'ocata',
+            warnings.append,
+            errors.append,
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(0, len(warnings))
+        self.assertEqual(1, len(errors))
+
+    def test_no_model_independent(self):
+        warnings = []
+        errors = []
+        validate.validate_model(
+            {},
+            '_independent',
+            warnings.append,
+            errors.append,
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(0, len(warnings))
+        self.assertEqual(0, len(errors))
+
+    def test_with_model_independent_match(self):
+        warnings = []
+        errors = []
+        validate.validate_model(
+            {'release-model': 'independent'},
+            '_independent',
+            warnings.append,
+            errors.append,
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(0, len(warnings))
+        self.assertEqual(0, len(errors))
+
+    def test_with_model_independent_nomatch(self):
+        warnings = []
+        errors = []
+        validate.validate_model(
+            {'release-model': 'cycle-with-intermediary'},
+            '_independent',
+            warnings.append,
+            errors.append,
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(0, len(warnings))
+        self.assertEqual(1, len(errors))
+
+    def test_with_independent_and_model(self):
+        warnings = []
+        errors = []
+        validate.validate_model(
+            {'release-model': 'independent'},
+            'ocata',
+            warnings.append,
+            errors.append,
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(0, len(warnings))
+        self.assertEqual(1, len(errors))
+
+    def test_with_model_series(self):
+        warnings = []
+        errors = []
+        validate.validate_model(
+            {'release-model': 'cycle-with-intermediary'},
+            'ocata',
+            warnings.append,
+            errors.append,
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(0, len(warnings))
+        self.assertEqual(0, len(errors))
+
+    def test_with_unknown_model_series(self):
+        warnings = []
+        errors = []
+        validate.validate_model(
+            {'release-model': 'not-a-model'},
+            'ocata',
+            warnings.append,
+            errors.append,
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(0, len(warnings))
+        self.assertEqual(1, len(errors))