diff --git a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebean/EbeanServer.java b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebean/EbeanServer.java
index 49ca50f0a..ab08d30ab 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebean/EbeanServer.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebean/EbeanServer.java
@@ -1937,4 +1937,12 @@ public interface EbeanServer {
    */
   <T> List<T> draftRestore(Query<T> query);
 
+  /**
+   * Returns the set of properties/paths that are unknown (do not map to known properties or paths).
+   * <p>
+   * Validate the query checking the where and orderBy expression paths to confirm if
+   * they represent valid properties/path for the given bean type.
+   * </p>
+   */
+  <T> Set<String> validateQuery(Query<T> query);
 }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebean/Query.java b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebean/Query.java
index fee79aafa..00367523e 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebean/Query.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebean/Query.java
@@ -1318,4 +1318,13 @@ public interface Query<T> extends Serializable {
    * </p>
    */
   Query<T> setDisableLazyLoading(boolean disableLazyLoading);
+
+  /**
+   * Returns the set of properties or paths that are unknown (do not map to known properties or paths).
+   * <p>
+   * Validate the query checking the where and orderBy expression paths to confirm if
+   * they represent valid properties or paths for the given bean type.
+   * </p>
+   */
+  Set<String> validate();
 }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebean/plugin/SpiBeanType.java b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebean/plugin/SpiBeanType.java
index 11f68f06d..ac97d7237 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebean/plugin/SpiBeanType.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebean/plugin/SpiBeanType.java
@@ -17,8 +17,13 @@ public interface SpiBeanType<T> {
   Class<T> getBeanType();
 
   /**
-   * Return the base table this bean type maps to.
+   * Return true if the property is a valid known property or path for the given bean type.
    */
+  boolean isValidExpression(String property);
+
+    /**
+     * Return the base table this bean type maps to.
+     */
   String getBaseTable();
 
   /**
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/api/SpiExpression.java b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/api/SpiExpression.java
index 152890772..28cdf61c5 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/api/SpiExpression.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/api/SpiExpression.java
@@ -66,4 +66,9 @@ public interface SpiExpression extends Expression {
 	 *            the associated request.
 	 */
 	void addBindValues(SpiExpressionRequest request);
+
+  /**
+   * Validate all the properties/paths associated with this expression.
+   */
+  void validate(SpiExpressionValidation validation);
 }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/api/SpiExpressionList.java b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/api/SpiExpressionList.java
index 87121f0fa..1cacf0a45 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/api/SpiExpressionList.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/api/SpiExpressionList.java
@@ -67,4 +67,8 @@ public interface SpiExpressionList<T> extends ExpressionList<T> {
    */
   void queryPlanHash(BeanQueryRequest<?> request, HashQueryPlanBuilder builder);
 
+  /**
+   * Validate all the properties/paths used in this expression list.
+   */
+  void validate(SpiExpressionValidation validation);
 }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/api/SpiExpressionValidation.java b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/api/SpiExpressionValidation.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fdc1e93cc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/api/SpiExpressionValidation.java
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+package com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api;
+
+import com.avaje.ebean.plugin.SpiBeanType;
+
+import java.util.LinkedHashSet;
+import java.util.Set;
+
+/**
+ * Property expression validation request for a given root bean type.
+ */
+public class SpiExpressionValidation {
+
+  private final SpiBeanType<?> desc;
+
+  private final LinkedHashSet<String> unknown = new LinkedHashSet<String>();
+
+  public SpiExpressionValidation(SpiBeanType<?> desc) {
+    this.desc = desc;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Validate that the property expression (path) is valid.
+   */
+  public void validate(String propertyName) {
+    if (!desc.isValidExpression(propertyName)) {
+      unknown.add(propertyName);
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Return the set of properties considered as having unknown paths.
+   */
+  public Set<String> getUnknownProperties() {
+    return unknown;
+  }
+
+}
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/api/SpiQuery.java b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/api/SpiQuery.java
index 565c0a800..05b1a7136 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/api/SpiQuery.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/api/SpiQuery.java
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import com.avaje.ebean.bean.ObjectGraphNode;
 import com.avaje.ebean.bean.PersistenceContext;
 import com.avaje.ebean.event.BeanQueryRequest;
 import com.avaje.ebean.event.readaudit.ReadEvent;
+import com.avaje.ebean.plugin.SpiBeanType;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.autotune.ProfilingListener;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.deploy.BeanDescriptor;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.deploy.BeanPropertyAssocMany;
@@ -22,6 +23,7 @@ import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.querydefn.OrmQueryProperties;
 
 import java.sql.Timestamp;
 import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Set;
 
 /**
  * Object Relational query - Internal extension to Query object.
@@ -694,4 +696,10 @@ public interface SpiQuery<T> extends Query<T> {
    * Return root table alias set by {@link #alias(String)} command.
    */
   String getAlias();
+
+  /**
+   * Validate the query returning the set of properties with unknown paths.
+   */
+  Set<String> validate(SpiBeanType<T> desc);
+
 }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/core/DefaultServer.java b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/core/DefaultServer.java
index c6e25515c..d9ec8164c 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/core/DefaultServer.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/core/DefaultServer.java
@@ -908,8 +908,7 @@ public final class DefaultServer implements SpiServer, SpiEbeanServer {
     Class<T> beanType = (Class<T>) list.get(0).getClass();
     BeanDescriptor<T> beanDescriptor = getBeanDescriptor(beanType);
     if (beanDescriptor == null) {
-      String m = "BeanDescriptor not found, is [" + beanType + "] an entity bean?";
-      throw new PersistenceException(m);
+      throw new PersistenceException("BeanDescriptor not found, is [" + beanType + "] an entity bean?");
     }
     beanDescriptor.sort(list, sortByClause);
   }
@@ -933,6 +932,16 @@ public final class DefaultServer implements SpiServer, SpiEbeanServer {
     return new DefaultOrmQuery<T>(beanType, this, expressionFactory, deployQuery);
   }
 
+  @Override
+  public <T> Set<String> validateQuery(Query<T> query) {
+
+    BeanDescriptor<T> beanDescriptor = getBeanDescriptor(query.getBeanType());
+    if (beanDescriptor == null) {
+      throw new PersistenceException("BeanDescriptor not found, is [" + query.getBeanType() + "] an entity bean?");
+    }
+    return ((SpiQuery<T>)query).validate(beanDescriptor);
+  }
+
   public <T> Filter<T> filter(Class<T> beanType) {
     BeanDescriptor<T> desc = getBeanDescriptor(beanType);
     if (desc == null) {
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/deploy/BeanDescriptor.java b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/deploy/BeanDescriptor.java
index 0c8149a6a..3f0320b30 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/deploy/BeanDescriptor.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/deploy/BeanDescriptor.java
@@ -1602,6 +1602,15 @@ public class BeanDescriptor<T> implements MetaBeanInfo, SpiBeanType<T> {
     return new ElComparatorProperty<T>(elGetValue, sortProp.isAscending(), nullsHigh);
   }
 
+  @Override
+  public boolean isValidExpression(String propertyName) {
+    try {
+      return (getElGetValue(propertyName) != null);
+    } catch (PersistenceException e) {
+      return false;
+    }
+  }
+
   /**
    * Get an Expression language Value object.
    */
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/AbstractExpression.java b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/AbstractExpression.java
index 99fe203a6..fd4e8c926 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/AbstractExpression.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/AbstractExpression.java
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.expression;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.ManyWhereJoins;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiExpression;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiExpressionRequest;
+import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiExpressionValidation;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.deploy.BeanDescriptor;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.el.ElPropertyDeploy;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.el.ElPropertyValue;
@@ -42,6 +43,11 @@ public abstract class AbstractExpression implements SpiExpression {
     }
   }
 
+  @Override
+  public void validate(SpiExpressionValidation validation) {
+    validation.validate(getPropertyName());
+  }
+
   protected ElPropertyValue getElProp(SpiExpressionRequest request) {
 
     String propertyName = getPropertyName();
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/AllEqualsExpression.java b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/AllEqualsExpression.java
index 5098f94c9..8f4edfdca 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/AllEqualsExpression.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/AllEqualsExpression.java
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.HashQueryPlanBuilder;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.ManyWhereJoins;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiExpression;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiExpressionRequest;
+import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiExpressionValidation;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.deploy.BeanDescriptor;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.el.ElPropertyDeploy;
 
@@ -36,6 +37,13 @@ class AllEqualsExpression implements SpiExpression {
     }
   }
 
+  @Override
+  public void validate(SpiExpressionValidation validation) {
+    for (String propName: propMap.keySet()) {
+      validation.validate(propName);
+    }
+  }
+
   public void addBindValues(SpiExpressionRequest request) {
 
     if (propMap.isEmpty()) {
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/BetweenPropertyExpression.java b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/BetweenPropertyExpression.java
index 5102cbcc9..c8f8193e1 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/BetweenPropertyExpression.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/BetweenPropertyExpression.java
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.HashQueryPlanBuilder;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.ManyWhereJoins;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiExpression;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiExpressionRequest;
+import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiExpressionValidation;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.deploy.BeanDescriptor;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.el.ElPropertyDeploy;
 
@@ -44,6 +45,12 @@ class BetweenPropertyExpression implements SpiExpression {
     }
   }
 
+  @Override
+  public void validate(SpiExpressionValidation validation) {
+    validation.validate(lowProperty);
+    validation.validate(highProperty);
+  }
+
   public void addBindValues(SpiExpressionRequest request) {
     request.addBindValue(value);
   }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/DefaultExampleExpression.java b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/DefaultExampleExpression.java
index b357e44da..47b2415d7 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/DefaultExampleExpression.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/DefaultExampleExpression.java
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.HashQueryPlanBuilder;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.ManyWhereJoins;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiExpression;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiExpressionRequest;
+import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiExpressionValidation;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.core.OrmQueryRequest;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.deploy.BeanDescriptor;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.deploy.BeanProperty;
@@ -121,6 +122,13 @@ public class DefaultExampleExpression implements SpiExpression, ExampleExpressio
     return this;
   }
 
+  @Override
+  public void validate(SpiExpressionValidation validation) {
+    for (int i = 0; i < list.size(); i++) {
+      list.get(i).validate(validation);
+    }
+  }
+
   /**
    * Adds bind values to the request.
    */
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/ExistsExpression.java b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/ExistsExpression.java
index 026f78306..d0b65a6ed 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/ExistsExpression.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/ExistsExpression.java
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.ManyWhereJoins;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiEbeanServer;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiExpression;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiExpressionRequest;
+import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiExpressionValidation;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiQuery;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.deploy.BeanDescriptor;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.query.CQuery;
@@ -85,4 +86,9 @@ public class ExistsExpression implements SpiExpression {
   public void containsMany(BeanDescriptor<?> desc, ManyWhereJoins whereManyJoins) {
     // Nothing to do for exists expression
   }
+
+  @Override
+  public void validate(SpiExpressionValidation validation) {
+    // Nothing to do for exists expression
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/IdExpression.java b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/IdExpression.java
index af62ed471..ce122251b 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/IdExpression.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/IdExpression.java
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.HashQueryPlanBuilder;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.ManyWhereJoins;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiExpression;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiExpressionRequest;
+import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiExpressionValidation;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.deploy.BeanDescriptor;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.util.DefaultExpressionRequest;
 
@@ -28,6 +29,11 @@ class IdExpression implements SpiExpression {
 
   }
 
+  @Override
+  public void validate(SpiExpressionValidation validation) {
+    // always valid
+  }
+
   public void addBindValues(SpiExpressionRequest request) {
 
     // 'flatten' EmbeddedId and multiple Id cases
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/IdInExpression.java b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/IdInExpression.java
index 4d965cd7c..ee3fa0bad 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/IdInExpression.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/IdInExpression.java
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.HashQueryPlanBuilder;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.ManyWhereJoins;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiExpression;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiExpressionRequest;
+import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiExpressionValidation;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.deploy.BeanDescriptor;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.deploy.id.IdBinder;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.util.DefaultExpressionRequest;
@@ -27,6 +28,11 @@ public class IdInExpression implements SpiExpression {
   public void containsMany(BeanDescriptor<?> desc, ManyWhereJoins manyWhereJoin) {
   }
 
+  @Override
+  public void validate(SpiExpressionValidation validation) {
+    // always valid
+  }
+
   public void addBindValues(SpiExpressionRequest request) {
 
     // Bind the Id values including EmbeddedId and multiple Id
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/JunctionExpression.java b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/JunctionExpression.java
index 845b4aba2..c0ba4f9f2 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/JunctionExpression.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/JunctionExpression.java
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.HashQueryPlanBuilder;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.ManyWhereJoins;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiExpression;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiExpressionRequest;
+import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiExpressionValidation;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.deploy.BeanDescriptor;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.util.DefaultExpressionList;
 
@@ -81,6 +82,11 @@ abstract class JunctionExpression<T> implements Junction<T>, SpiExpression, Expr
     }
   }
 
+  @Override
+  public void validate(SpiExpressionValidation validation) {
+    exprList.validate(validation);
+  }
+
   @Override
   public Junction<T> add(Expression item) {
     SpiExpression i = (SpiExpression) item;
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/LogicExpression.java b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/LogicExpression.java
index 782af06ba..981e6b563 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/LogicExpression.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/LogicExpression.java
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.HashQueryPlanBuilder;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.ManyWhereJoins;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiExpression;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiExpressionRequest;
+import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiExpressionValidation;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.deploy.BeanDescriptor;
 
 /**
@@ -53,6 +54,12 @@ abstract class LogicExpression implements SpiExpression {
     expTwo.containsMany(desc, manyWhereJoin);
   }
 
+  @Override
+  public void validate(SpiExpressionValidation validation) {
+    expOne.validate(validation);
+    expTwo.validate(validation);
+  }
+
   public void addBindValues(SpiExpressionRequest request) {
     expOne.addBindValues(request);
     expTwo.addBindValues(request);
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/NoopExpression.java b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/NoopExpression.java
index 789f470d1..549ecb60d 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/NoopExpression.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/NoopExpression.java
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.HashQueryPlanBuilder;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.ManyWhereJoins;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiExpression;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiExpressionRequest;
+import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiExpressionValidation;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.deploy.BeanDescriptor;
 
 /**
@@ -19,6 +20,11 @@ class NoopExpression implements SpiExpression {
     // nothing to do
   }
 
+  @Override
+  public void validate(SpiExpressionValidation validation) {
+    // always valid
+  }
+
   @Override
   public void queryAutoTuneHash(HashQueryPlanBuilder builder) {
     builder.add(NoopExpression.class);
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/NotExpression.java b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/NotExpression.java
index 122ff6658..a34fc1bbe 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/NotExpression.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/NotExpression.java
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.HashQueryPlanBuilder;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.ManyWhereJoins;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiExpression;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiExpressionRequest;
+import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiExpressionValidation;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.deploy.BeanDescriptor;
 
 final class NotExpression implements SpiExpression {
@@ -24,6 +25,11 @@ final class NotExpression implements SpiExpression {
     exp.containsMany(desc, manyWhereJoin);
   }
 
+  @Override
+  public void validate(SpiExpressionValidation validation) {
+    exp.validate(validation);
+  }
+
   public void addBindValues(SpiExpressionRequest request) {
     exp.addBindValues(request);
   }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/RawExpression.java b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/RawExpression.java
index 754e07586..e078b87c9 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/RawExpression.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/expression/RawExpression.java
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.HashQueryPlanBuilder;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.ManyWhereJoins;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiExpression;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiExpressionRequest;
+import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiExpressionValidation;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.deploy.BeanDescriptor;
 
 class RawExpression implements SpiExpression {
@@ -24,6 +25,11 @@ class RawExpression implements SpiExpression {
 
   }
 
+  @Override
+  public void validate(SpiExpressionValidation validation) {
+    // always ignored
+  }
+
   public void addBindValues(SpiExpressionRequest request) {
     if (values != null) {
       for (int i = 0; i < values.length; i++) {
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/querydefn/DefaultOrmQuery.java b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/querydefn/DefaultOrmQuery.java
index fee0b4223..7b2dbaec4 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/querydefn/DefaultOrmQuery.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/querydefn/DefaultOrmQuery.java
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import com.avaje.ebean.bean.ObjectGraphOrigin;
 import com.avaje.ebean.bean.PersistenceContext;
 import com.avaje.ebean.event.BeanQueryRequest;
 import com.avaje.ebean.event.readaudit.ReadEvent;
+import com.avaje.ebean.plugin.SpiBeanType;
 import com.avaje.ebean.text.PathProperties;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.BindParams;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.HashQuery;
@@ -17,6 +18,7 @@ import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.HashQueryPlanBuilder;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.ManyWhereJoins;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiExpression;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiExpressionList;
+import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiExpressionValidation;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiQuery;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.autotune.ProfilingListener;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.deploy.BeanDescriptor;
@@ -1413,4 +1415,28 @@ public class DefaultOrmQuery<T> implements SpiQuery<T> {
     }
   }
 
+  @Override
+  public Set<String> validate() {
+    return server.validateQuery(this);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Validate all the expression properties/paths given the bean descriptor.
+   */
+  public Set<String> validate(SpiBeanType<T> desc) {
+
+    SpiExpressionValidation validation = new SpiExpressionValidation(desc);
+    if (whereExpressions != null) {
+      whereExpressions.validate(validation);
+    }
+    if (havingExpressions != null) {
+      havingExpressions.validate(validation);
+    }
+    if (orderBy != null) {
+      for (Property property : orderBy.getProperties()) {
+        validation.validate(property.getProperty());
+      }
+    }
+    return validation.getUnknownProperties();
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/util/DefaultExpressionList.java b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/util/DefaultExpressionList.java
index 9474f6001..f7cb6043f 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/util/DefaultExpressionList.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/util/DefaultExpressionList.java
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.ManyWhereJoins;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiExpression;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiExpressionList;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiExpressionRequest;
+import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiExpressionValidation;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.deploy.BeanDescriptor;
 
 /**
@@ -98,6 +99,13 @@ public class DefaultExpressionList<T> implements SpiExpressionList<T> {
     }
   }
 
+  @Override
+  public void validate(SpiExpressionValidation validation) {
+    for (int i = 0; i < list.size(); i++) {
+      list.get(i).validate(validation);
+    }
+  }
+
   @Override
   public ExpressionList<T> endJunction() {
     return parentExprList == null ? this : parentExprList;
diff --git a/src/test/java/com/avaje/ebean/plugin/SpiServerTest.java b/src/test/java/com/avaje/ebean/plugin/SpiServerTest.java
index 1f752217c..21fddfdb8 100644
--- a/src/test/java/com/avaje/ebean/plugin/SpiServerTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/com/avaje/ebean/plugin/SpiServerTest.java
@@ -26,6 +26,13 @@ public class SpiServerTest {
     assertNull(beanType.getPersistListener());
     assertNull(beanType.getQueryAdapter());
 
+    assertTrue(beanType.isValidExpression("name"));
+    assertTrue(beanType.isValidExpression("contacts.firstName"));
+    assertTrue(beanType.isValidExpression("contacts.group.name"));
+    assertFalse(beanType.isValidExpression("junk"));
+    assertFalse(beanType.isValidExpression("Name"));
+    assertFalse(beanType.isValidExpression("contacts.name"));
+
     Customer customer = new Customer();
     customer.setId(42);
 
diff --git a/src/test/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/api/TDSpiEbeanServer.java b/src/test/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/api/TDSpiEbeanServer.java
index dd9750044..467d416b0 100644
--- a/src/test/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/api/TDSpiEbeanServer.java
+++ b/src/test/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/api/TDSpiEbeanServer.java
@@ -292,6 +292,11 @@ public class TDSpiEbeanServer implements SpiEbeanServer {
     return null;
   }
 
+  @Override
+  public <T> Set<String> validateQuery(Query<T> query) {
+    return null;
+  }
+
   @Override
   public Object nextId(Class<?> beanType) {
     return null;
diff --git a/src/test/java/com/avaje/tests/query/orderby/TestOrderByWithDistinct.java b/src/test/java/com/avaje/tests/query/orderby/TestOrderByWithDistinct.java
index cb03fd16e..1a69c2eff 100644
--- a/src/test/java/com/avaje/tests/query/orderby/TestOrderByWithDistinct.java
+++ b/src/test/java/com/avaje/tests/query/orderby/TestOrderByWithDistinct.java
@@ -1,7 +1,10 @@
 package com.avaje.tests.query.orderby;
 
 import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Set;
 
+import com.avaje.tests.model.basic.Customer;
+import com.avaje.tests.model.basic.ResetBasicData;
 import org.junit.Assert;
 import org.junit.Test;
 
@@ -12,9 +15,29 @@ import com.avaje.tests.model.basic.MRole;
 import com.avaje.tests.model.basic.MUser;
 import com.avaje.tests.model.basic.MUserType;
 
+import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThat;
+
 
 public class TestOrderByWithDistinct extends BaseTestCase {
-	
+
+  @Test
+  public void testOrderByValidation() {
+
+    ResetBasicData.reset();
+
+    Query<Customer> query = Ebean.find(Customer.class)
+        .where()
+          .eq("junk","blah")
+          .eq("name","jim")
+        .orderBy("id desc,path.that.does.not.exist,contacts.group.name asc");
+
+    Set<String> unknownProperties = query.validate();
+    assertThat(unknownProperties).isNotEmpty();
+    assertThat(unknownProperties).hasSize(2);
+    assertThat(unknownProperties).contains("junk","path.that.does.not.exist");
+
+  }
+
 	@Test
 	public void test() {
 		/*