diff --git a/tools/leaderelection/leaderelection.go b/tools/leaderelection/leaderelection.go
index 940e7161..c1151baf 100644
--- a/tools/leaderelection/leaderelection.go
+++ b/tools/leaderelection/leaderelection.go
@@ -99,6 +99,11 @@ func NewLeaderElector(lec LeaderElectionConfig) (*LeaderElector, error) {
 	if lec.Lock == nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("Lock must not be nil.")
 	}
+	id := lec.Lock.Identity()
+	if id == "" {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("Lock identity is empty")
+	}
+
 	le := LeaderElector{
 		config:  lec,
 		clock:   clock.RealClock{},
diff --git a/tools/leaderelection/leaderelection_test.go b/tools/leaderelection/leaderelection_test.go
index 41368503..02fa6a1d 100644
--- a/tools/leaderelection/leaderelection_test.go
+++ b/tools/leaderelection/leaderelection_test.go
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@ import (
 	rl "k8s.io/client-go/tools/leaderelection/resourcelock"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/tools/record"
 	"k8s.io/utils/clock"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 )
 
 func createLockObject(t *testing.T, objectType, namespace, name string, record *rl.LeaderElectionRecord) (obj runtime.Object) {
@@ -753,6 +755,41 @@ func testReleaseOnCancellation(t *testing.T, objectType string) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestLeaderElectionConfigValidation(t *testing.T) {
+	resourceLockConfig := rl.ResourceLockConfig{
+		Identity: "baz",
+	}
+
+	lock := &rl.LeaseLock{
+		LockConfig: resourceLockConfig,
+	}
+
+	lec := LeaderElectionConfig{
+		Lock:          lock,
+		LeaseDuration: 15 * time.Second,
+		RenewDeadline: 2 * time.Second,
+		RetryPeriod:   1 * time.Second,
+
+		ReleaseOnCancel: true,
+
+		Callbacks: LeaderCallbacks{
+			OnNewLeader:      func(identity string) {},
+			OnStoppedLeading: func() {},
+			OnStartedLeading: func(context.Context) {},
+		},
+	}
+
+	_, err := NewLeaderElector(lec)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+	// Invalid lock identity
+	resourceLockConfig.Identity = ""
+	lock.LockConfig = resourceLockConfig
+	lec.Lock = lock
+	_, err = NewLeaderElector(lec)
+	assert.Error(t, err, fmt.Errorf("Lock identity is empty"))
+}
+
 func assertEqualEvents(t *testing.T, expected []string, actual <-chan string) {
 	c := time.After(wait.ForeverTestTimeout)
 	for _, e := range expected {