diff --git a/awx/api/serializers.py b/awx/api/serializers.py
index 2e3b2d41f0..8c7d8de450 100644
--- a/awx/api/serializers.py
+++ b/awx/api/serializers.py
@@ -2435,6 +2435,8 @@ class NotificationTemplateSerializer(BaseSerializer):
 
     def validate(self, attrs):
         from awx.api.views import NotificationTemplateDetail
+        if 'notification_type' not in attrs:
+            raise serializers.ValidationError('Missing required fields for Notification Configuration: notification_type')
         notification_class = NotificationTemplate.CLASS_FOR_NOTIFICATION_TYPE[attrs['notification_type']]
         missing_fields = []
         incorrect_type_fields = []
diff --git a/awx/main/tests/functional/test_notifications.py b/awx/main/tests/functional/test_notifications.py
index d6db3e608c..1b251333e2 100644
--- a/awx/main/tests/functional/test_notifications.py
+++ b/awx/main/tests/functional/test_notifications.py
@@ -104,3 +104,7 @@ def test_notification_template_merging(get, post, user, organization, project, n
     organization.notification_templates_any.add(notification_template)
     project.notification_templates_any.add(notification_template)
     assert len(project.notification_templates['any']) == 1
+
+@pytest.mark.django_db
+def test_notification_template_invalid_patch(patch, notification_template, organization, admin):
+    patch(reverse('api:notification_template_detail', args=(notification_template.id,)), { 'organization': organization.id}, admin, expect=400)