diff --git a/src/security/v2/validation-policy-config.cpp b/src/security/v2/validation-policy-config.cpp
index ff3f7bf..763bef1 100644
--- a/src/security/v2/validation-policy-config.cpp
+++ b/src/security/v2/validation-policy-config.cpp
@@ -75,6 +75,9 @@
 void
 ValidationPolicyConfig::load(const ConfigSection& configSection, const std::string& filename)
 {
+  if (m_validator == nullptr) {
+    BOOST_THROW_EXCEPTION(Error("Validator instance not assigned on the policy"));
+  }
   if (m_isConfigured) {
     m_shouldBypass = false;
     m_dataRules.clear();
diff --git a/src/security/v2/validation-policy-config.hpp b/src/security/v2/validation-policy-config.hpp
index 7690cc1..d2ed69c 100644
--- a/src/security/v2/validation-policy-config.hpp
+++ b/src/security/v2/validation-policy-config.hpp
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 /* -*- Mode:C++; c-file-style:"gnu"; indent-tabs-mode:nil; -*- */
 /*
- * Copyright (c) 2013-2017 Regents of the University of California.
+ * Copyright (c) 2013-2018 Regents of the University of California.
  *
  * This file is part of ndn-cxx library (NDN C++ library with eXperimental eXtensions).
  *
@@ -44,15 +44,31 @@
 public:
   ValidationPolicyConfig();
 
+  /**
+   * @brief Load policy from file @p filename
+   * @throw Error Validator instance not assigned to the policy (m_validator == nullptr)
+   */
   void
   load(const std::string& filename);
 
+  /**
+   * @brief Load policy from direct @p input
+   * @throw Error Validator instance not assigned to the policy (m_validator == nullptr)
+   */
   void
   load(const std::string& input, const std::string& filename);
 
+  /**
+   * @brief Load policy from direct @p input
+   * @throw Error Validator instance not assigned to the policy (m_validator == nullptr)
+   */
   void
   load(std::istream& input, const std::string& filename);
 
+  /**
+   * @brief Load policy from @p configSection
+   * @throw Error Validator instance not assigned to the policy (m_validator == nullptr)
+   */
   void
   load(const ConfigSection& configSection, const std::string& filename);
 
diff --git a/src/security/v2/validation-policy.hpp b/src/security/v2/validation-policy.hpp
index 0f86c20..6921984 100644
--- a/src/security/v2/validation-policy.hpp
+++ b/src/security/v2/validation-policy.hpp
@@ -40,11 +40,6 @@
   using ValidationContinuation = std::function<void(const shared_ptr<CertificateRequest>& certRequest,
                                                     const shared_ptr<ValidationState>& state)>;
 
-  ValidationPolicy()
-    : m_validator(nullptr)
-  {
-  }
-
   virtual
   ~ValidationPolicy() = default;
 
@@ -148,7 +143,7 @@
   }
 
 NDN_CXX_PUBLIC_WITH_TESTS_ELSE_PROTECTED:
-  Validator* m_validator;
+  Validator* m_validator = nullptr;
   unique_ptr<ValidationPolicy> m_innerPolicy;
 };