diff --git a/apisix/debug.lua b/apisix/debug.lua
index 363aee172e4f..72c101635881 100644
--- a/apisix/debug.lua
+++ b/apisix/debug.lua
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ local log          = require("apisix.core.log")
 local profile      = require("apisix.core.profile")
 local lfs          = require("lfs")
 local inspect      = require("inspect")
+local jsonschema   = require("jsonschema")
 local io           = io
 local ngx          = ngx
 local re_find      = ngx.re.find
@@ -38,6 +39,51 @@ local debug_yaml_ctime
 local _M = {version = 0.1}
 
 
+local config_schema = {
+    type = "object",
+    properties = {
+        basic = {
+            properties = {
+                enable = {
+                    type = "boolean",
+                },
+            }
+        },
+        http_filter = {
+            properties = {
+                enable = {
+                    type = "boolean",
+                },
+                enable_header_name = {
+                    type = "string",
+                },
+            }
+        },
+        hook_conf = {
+            properties = {
+                enable = {
+                    type = "boolean",
+                },
+                name = {
+                    type = "string",
+                },
+                log_level = {
+                    enum = {"debug", "info", "notice", "warn", "error",
+                            "crit", "alert","emerg"},
+                },
+                is_print_input_args = {
+                    type = "boolean",
+                },
+                is_print_return_value = {
+                    type = "boolean",
+                },
+            }
+        },
+    },
+    required = {"basic", "http_filter", "hook_conf"},
+}
+
+
 local function read_debug_yaml()
     local attributes, err = lfs.attributes(debug_yaml_path)
     if not attributes then
@@ -93,6 +139,16 @@ local function read_debug_yaml()
     debug_yaml_new.hooks = debug_yaml_new.hooks or {}
     debug_yaml = debug_yaml_new
     debug_yaml_ctime = last_change_time
+
+    -- validate the debug yaml config
+    local validator = jsonschema.generate_validator(config_schema)
+    local ok, err = validator(debug_yaml)
+    if not ok then
+        log.error("failed to validate debug config " .. err)
+        return
+    end
+
+    return true
 end
 
 
@@ -204,7 +260,10 @@ local function sync_debug_status(premature)
         return
     end
 
-    read_debug_yaml()
+    if not read_debug_yaml() then
+        return
+    end
+
     sync_debug_hooks()
 end
 
diff --git a/t/debug/dynamic-hook.t b/t/debug/dynamic-hook.t
index 95ac63bcc83e..692942d1f9e4 100644
--- a/t/debug/dynamic-hook.t
+++ b/t/debug/dynamic-hook.t
@@ -213,6 +213,8 @@ call require("apisix").http_log_phase() return:{}
 
 === TEST 4: plugin filter log
 --- debug_config
+basic:
+  enable: true
 http_filter:
   enable: true         # enable or disable this feature
   enable_header_name: X-APISIX-Dynamic-Debug # the header name of dynamic enable
@@ -295,6 +297,8 @@ filter(): call require("apisix.plugin").filter() return:{
 
 === TEST 5: multiple requests, only output logs of the request with enable_header_name
 --- debug_config
+basic:
+  enable: true
 http_filter:
   enable: true
   enable_header_name: X-APISIX-Dynamic-Debug
@@ -374,6 +378,8 @@ qr/call\srequire\(\"apisix.plugin\"\).filter\(\)\sreturn.*GET\s\/mysleep\?second
 
 === TEST 6: hook function with ctx as param
 --- debug_config
+basic:
+  enable: true
 http_filter:
   enable: true         # enable or disable this feature
   enable_header_name: X-APISIX-Dynamic-Debug # the header name of dynamic enable
diff --git a/t/debug/hook.t b/t/debug/hook.t
index 5afac49ce589..1a9ebc140437 100644
--- a/t/debug/hook.t
+++ b/t/debug/hook.t
@@ -104,6 +104,11 @@ call require("apisix").http_log_phase() return:{}
 
 === TEST 4: plugin filter log
 --- debug_config
+basic:
+  enable: true
+http_filter:
+  enable: true         # enable or disable this feature
+  enable_header_name: X-APISIX-Dynamic-Debug # the header name of dynamic enable
 hook_conf:
   enable: true                  # enable or disable this feature
   name: hook_test               # the name of module and function list
@@ -120,10 +125,35 @@ hook_test:                      # module and function list, name: hook_test
 GET /hello
 --- more_headers
 Host: foo.com
+X-APISIX-Dynamic-Debug: true
 --- response_body
 hello world
---- no_error_log
-[error]
 --- error_log
 filter(): call require("apisix.plugin").filter() args:{
 filter(): call require("apisix.plugin").filter() return:{
+
+
+
+=== TEST 5: missing hook_conf
+--- debug_config
+basic:
+  enable: true
+http_filter:
+  enable: true         # enable or disable this feature
+  enable_header_name: X-APISIX-Dynamic-Debug # the header name of dynamic enable
+
+hook_test:                      # module and function list, name: hook_test
+    apisix.plugin:              # required module name
+    - filter                    # function name
+
+#END
+--- request
+GET /hello
+--- more_headers
+Host: foo.com
+X-APISIX-Dynamic-Debug: true
+--- response_body
+hello world
+--- error_log
+read_debug_yaml(): failed to validate debug config property "hook_conf" is required
+--- wait: 3