diff --git a/include/sway/config.h b/include/sway/config.h
index 2de90434..1ee84930 100644
--- a/include/sway/config.h
+++ b/include/sway/config.h
@@ -208,6 +208,7 @@ enum secure_feature {
 struct feature_policy {
 	char *program;
 	uint32_t features;
+	bool validated;
 };
 
 enum ipc_feature {
@@ -235,6 +236,7 @@ enum ipc_feature {
 struct ipc_policy {
 	char *program;
 	uint32_t features;
+	bool validated;
 };
 
 /**
diff --git a/sway/commands/permit.c b/sway/commands/permit.c
index 66fa4e2a..11918efd 100644
--- a/sway/commands/permit.c
+++ b/sway/commands/permit.c
@@ -49,7 +49,6 @@ struct cmd_results *cmd_permit(int argc, char **argv) {
 		return error;
 	}
 
-	bool assign_perms = true;
 	char *program = NULL;
 
 	if (!strcmp(argv[0], "*")) {
@@ -65,11 +64,14 @@ struct cmd_results *cmd_permit(int argc, char **argv) {
 	}
 
 	struct feature_policy *policy = get_feature_policy(program);
-	if (assign_perms) {
+	if (policy->validated) {
 		policy->features |= get_features(argc, argv, &error);
+		sway_log(L_DEBUG, "Permissions granted to %s for features %d",
+				policy->program, policy->features);
+	} else {
+		sway_log(L_ERROR, "Unable to validate IPC permit target '%s'."
+			" will issue empty policy", argv[0]);
 	}
-	sway_log(L_DEBUG, "Permissions granted to %s for features %d",
-			policy->program, policy->features);
 
 	free(program);
 	return cmd_results_new(CMD_SUCCESS, NULL, NULL);
@@ -98,6 +100,10 @@ struct cmd_results *cmd_reject(int argc, char **argv) {
 	}
 
 	struct feature_policy *policy = get_feature_policy(program);
+	if (!policy->validated) {
+		sway_log(L_ERROR, "Unable to validate IPC reject target '%s'."
+			" Allowing `reject` directive anyway", argv[0]);
+	}
 	policy->features &= ~get_features(argc, argv, &error);
 
 	sway_log(L_DEBUG, "Permissions granted to %s for features %d",
diff --git a/sway/security.c b/sway/security.c
index 8eab6126..0c12bc32 100644
--- a/sway/security.c
+++ b/sway/security.c
@@ -45,9 +45,6 @@ static bool validate_ipc_target(const char *program) {
 struct feature_policy *alloc_feature_policy(const char *program) {
 	uint32_t default_policy = 0;
 
-	if (!validate_ipc_target(program)) {
-		return NULL;
-	}
 	for (int i = 0; i < config->feature_policies->length; ++i) {
 		struct feature_policy *policy = config->feature_policies->items[i];
 		if (strcmp(policy->program, "*") == 0) {
@@ -60,6 +57,7 @@ struct feature_policy *alloc_feature_policy(const char *program) {
 	if (!policy) {
 		return NULL;
 	}
+	policy->validated = validate_ipc_target	(program);
 	policy->program = strdup(program);
 	if (!policy->program) {
 		free(policy);
@@ -73,9 +71,6 @@ struct feature_policy *alloc_feature_policy(const char *program) {
 struct ipc_policy *alloc_ipc_policy(const char *program) {
 	uint32_t default_policy = 0;
 
-	if (!validate_ipc_target(program)) {
-		return NULL;
-	}
 	for (int i = 0; i < config->ipc_policies->length; ++i) {
 		struct ipc_policy *policy = config->ipc_policies->items[i];
 		if (strcmp(policy->program, "*") == 0) {
@@ -88,6 +83,7 @@ struct ipc_policy *alloc_ipc_policy(const char *program) {
 	if (!policy) {
 		return NULL;
 	}
+	policy->validated = validate_ipc_target	(program);
 	policy->program = strdup(program);
 	if (!policy->program) {
 		free(policy);