diff --git a/pkg/k8sclient/k8sclient.go b/pkg/k8sclient/k8sclient.go
index 9c7005fda..83f306f80 100644
--- a/pkg/k8sclient/k8sclient.go
+++ b/pkg/k8sclient/k8sclient.go
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"regexp"
 	"strings"
+	"syscall"
 
 	v1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
@@ -182,16 +183,22 @@ func parsePodNetworkObjectName(podnetwork string) (string, string, string, error
 	// Check and see if each item matches the specification for valid attachment name.
 	// "Valid attachment names must be comprised of units of the DNS-1123 label format"
 	// [a-z0-9]([-a-z0-9]*[a-z0-9])?
-	// And we allow at (@), and forward slash (/) (units separated by commas)
 	// It must start and end alphanumerically.
-	allItems := []string{netNsName, networkName, netIfName}
+	allItems := []string{netNsName, networkName}
+	expr := regexp.MustCompile("^[a-z0-9]([-a-z0-9]*[a-z0-9])?$")
 	for i := range allItems {
-		matched, _ := regexp.MatchString("^[a-z0-9]([-a-z0-9]*[a-z0-9])?$", allItems[i])
+		matched := expr.MatchString(allItems[i])
 		if !matched && len([]rune(allItems[i])) > 0 {
 			return "", "", "", logging.Errorf(fmt.Sprintf("parsePodNetworkObjectName: Failed to parse: one or more items did not match comma-delimited format (must consist of lower case alphanumeric characters). Must start and end with an alphanumeric character), mismatch @ '%v'", allItems[i]))
 		}
 	}
 
+	if len(netIfName) > 0 {
+		if len(netIfName) > (syscall.IFNAMSIZ-1) || strings.ContainsAny(netIfName, " \t\n\v\f\r/") {
+			return "", "", "", logging.Errorf(fmt.Sprintf("parsePodNetworkObjectName: Failed to parse interface name: must be less than 15 chars and not contain '/' or spaces. interface name '%s'", netIfName))
+		}
+	}
+
 	logging.Debugf("parsePodNetworkObjectName: parsed: %s, %s, %s", netNsName, networkName, netIfName)
 	return netNsName, networkName, netIfName, nil
 }
diff --git a/pkg/k8sclient/k8sclient_test.go b/pkg/k8sclient/k8sclient_test.go
index 2a1684654..8bc712395 100644
--- a/pkg/k8sclient/k8sclient_test.go
+++ b/pkg/k8sclient/k8sclient_test.go
@@ -1002,36 +1002,30 @@ users:
 	})
 
 	Context("parsePodNetworkObjectName", func() {
-		It("fails to get podnetwork given bad annotation values", func() {
-			fakePod := testutils.NewFakePod(fakePodName, "net1", "")
-
-			clientInfo := NewFakeClientInfo()
-			_, err := clientInfo.AddPod(fakePod)
-			Expect(err).NotTo(HaveOccurred())
-
-			_, err = clientInfo.AddNetAttachDef(
-				testutils.NewFakeNetAttachDef(fakePod.ObjectMeta.Namespace, "net1", "{\"type\": \"mynet\"}"))
-			Expect(err).NotTo(HaveOccurred())
-
-			k8sArgs, err := GetK8sArgs(args)
-			Expect(err).NotTo(HaveOccurred())
-			pod, err := clientInfo.GetPod(string(k8sArgs.K8S_POD_NAMESPACE), string(k8sArgs.K8S_POD_NAME))
-
-			// invalid case 1 - can't have more than 2 items separated by "/"
-			pod.Annotations[networkAttachmentAnnot] = "root@someIP/root@someOtherIP/root@thirdIP"
+		DescribeTable("fails to get podnetwork given bad annotation values", func(networkAnnot string) {
+			pod := testutils.NewFakePod(fakePodName, "net1", "")
+			pod.Annotations[networkAttachmentAnnot] = networkAnnot
 			_, err = GetPodNetwork(pod)
 			Expect(err).To(HaveOccurred())
+		},
+			Entry("can't have more than 2 items separated by \"/\"", "root@someIP/root@someOtherIP/root@thirdIP"),
+			Entry("can't have more than 2 items separated by \"@\"", "root@someIP/root@someOtherIP@garbagevalue"),
+			Entry("not matching comma-delimited format", "root@someIP/root@someOtherIP"),
+			Entry("invalid network interface name space in netdev name", "default/net1@myIfc Name"),
+			Entry("invalid network interface name too long", "default/net1@very_long_interface_name"),
+		)
 
-			// invalid case 2 - can't have more than 2 items separated by "@"
-			pod.Annotations[networkAttachmentAnnot] = "root@someIP/root@someOtherIP@garbagevalue"
+		DescribeTable("gets pod network successfully from annotation values", func(networkAnnot string) {
+			pod := testutils.NewFakePod(fakePodName, "net1", "")
+			pod.Annotations[networkAttachmentAnnot] = networkAnnot
 			_, err = GetPodNetwork(pod)
-			Expect(err).To(HaveOccurred())
-
-			// invalid case 3 - not matching comma-delimited format
-			pod.Annotations[networkAttachmentAnnot] = "root@someIP/root@someOtherIP"
-			_, err = GetPodNetwork(pod)
-			Expect(err).To(HaveOccurred())
-		})
+			Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
+		},
+			Entry("network without namespace", "net1"),
+			Entry("network with namespace", "default/net1"),
+			Entry("network with interface name", "net1@my_interface"),
+			Entry("network with interface name and namespace", "default/net1@my_interface"),
+		)
 	})
 
 	Context("setPodNetworkAnnotation", func() {