diff --git a/cmd/kubebuilder/v1/api.go b/cmd/kubebuilder/v1/api.go
index f4936f0b9e..38ddaa75da 100644
--- a/cmd/kubebuilder/v1/api.go
+++ b/cmd/kubebuilder/v1/api.go
@@ -50,11 +50,22 @@ func (o *apiOptions) RunAddAPI() {
 		fmt.Println("Create Resource under pkg/apis [y/n]?")
 		o.doResource = util.Yesno(reader)
 	}
+
 	if !o.controllerFlag.Changed {
 		fmt.Println("Create Controller under pkg/controller [y/n]?")
 		o.doController = util.Yesno(reader)
 	}
 
+	if o.r.Group == "" {
+		log.Fatalf("Must specify --group")
+	}
+	if o.r.Version == "" {
+		log.Fatalf("Must specify --version")
+	}
+	if o.r.Kind == "" {
+		log.Fatalf("Must specify --kind")
+	}
+
 	fmt.Println("Writing scaffold for you to edit...")
 
 	r := o.r