diff --git a/registry/storage/manifeststore.go b/registry/storage/manifeststore.go
index 4cbfbda27..2505b57c7 100644
--- a/registry/storage/manifeststore.go
+++ b/registry/storage/manifeststore.go
@@ -112,6 +112,10 @@ func (ms *manifestStore) verifyManifest(ctx context.Context, mnfst *schema1.Sign
 		errs = append(errs, fmt.Errorf("manifest name must not be more than %v characters", reference.NameTotalLengthMax))
 	}
 
+	if !reference.NameRegexp.MatchString(mnfst.Name) {
+		errs = append(errs, fmt.Errorf("invalid manifest name format"))
+	}
+
 	if len(mnfst.History) != len(mnfst.FSLayers) {
 		errs = append(errs, fmt.Errorf("mismatched history and fslayer cardinality %d != %d",
 			len(mnfst.History), len(mnfst.FSLayers)))