diff --git a/packages/core/src/codewhisperer/service/transformByQ/transformFileHandler.ts b/packages/core/src/codewhisperer/service/transformByQ/transformFileHandler.ts
index 91ee8f6639c..b16ea64022c 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/codewhisperer/service/transformByQ/transformFileHandler.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/codewhisperer/service/transformByQ/transformFileHandler.ts
@@ -139,8 +139,14 @@ export function validateCustomVersionsFile(fileContents: string) {
             getLogger().info('CodeTransformation: .YAML file must contain at least dependencies or plugins')
             return `YAML file must contain at least \`dependencies\` or \`plugins\` under \`dependencyManagement\``
         }
-        for (const item of dependenciesAndPlugins) {
-            const errorMessage = validateItem(item)
+        for (const item of dependencies) {
+            const errorMessage = validateItem(item, false)
+            if (errorMessage) {
+                return errorMessage
+            }
+        }
+        for (const item of plugins) {
+            const errorMessage = validateItem(item, true)
             if (errorMessage) {
                 return errorMessage
             }
@@ -153,10 +159,15 @@ export function validateCustomVersionsFile(fileContents: string) {
 }
 
 // return an error message, or undefined if item is valid
-function validateItem(item: any, validOriginTypes: string[] = ['FIRST_PARTY', 'THIRD_PARTY']) {
-    if (!/^[^\s:]+:[^\s:]+$/.test(item.identifier)) {
+function validateItem(item: any, isPlugin: boolean) {
+    const validOriginTypes = ['FIRST_PARTY', 'THIRD_PARTY']
+    if (!isPlugin && !/^[^\s:]+:[^\s:]+$/.test(item.identifier)) {
         getLogger().info(`CodeTransformation: Invalid identifier format: ${item.identifier}`)
-        return `Invalid identifier format: \`${item.identifier}\`. Must be in format \`groupId:artifactId\` without spaces`
+        return `Invalid dependency identifier format: \`${item.identifier}\`. Must be in format \`groupId:artifactId\` without spaces`
+    }
+    if (isPlugin && !item.identifier?.trim()) {
+        getLogger().info('CodeTransformation: Missing identifier in plugin')
+        return 'Missing `identifier` in plugin'
     }
     if (!validOriginTypes.includes(item.originType)) {
         getLogger().info(`CodeTransformation: Invalid originType: ${item.originType}`)
diff --git a/packages/core/src/test/codewhisperer/commands/transformByQ.test.ts b/packages/core/src/test/codewhisperer/commands/transformByQ.test.ts
index f205f075872..3b12fcefbc0 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/test/codewhisperer/commands/transformByQ.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/test/codewhisperer/commands/transformByQ.test.ts
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ dependencyManagement:
       targetVersion: "3.0.0"
       originType: "THIRD_PARTY"
   plugins:
-    - identifier: "com.example:plugin"
+    - identifier: "plugin.id"
       targetVersion: "1.2.0"
       versionProperty: "plugin.version"  # Optional
       originType: "FIRST_PARTY" # or "THIRD_PARTY"`
@@ -582,15 +582,21 @@ dependencyManagement:
         assert.strictEqual(errorMessage, `Missing required key: \`dependencyManagement\``)
     })
 
-    it(`WHEN validateCustomVersionsFile on .yaml file with invalid identifier format THEN fails validation`, function () {
+    it(`WHEN validateCustomVersionsFile on .yaml file with invalid dependency identifier format THEN fails validation`, function () {
         const invalidFile = validCustomVersionsFile.replace('com.example:library1', 'com.example-library1')
         const errorMessage = validateCustomVersionsFile(invalidFile)
         assert.strictEqual(
             errorMessage,
-            `Invalid identifier format: \`com.example-library1\`. Must be in format \`groupId:artifactId\` without spaces`
+            `Invalid dependency identifier format: \`com.example-library1\`. Must be in format \`groupId:artifactId\` without spaces`
         )
     })
 
+    it(`WHEN validateCustomVersionsFile on .yaml file with missing plugin identifier format THEN fails validation`, function () {
+        const invalidFile = validCustomVersionsFile.replace('plugin.id', '')
+        const errorMessage = validateCustomVersionsFile(invalidFile)
+        assert.strictEqual(errorMessage, 'Missing `identifier` in plugin')
+    })
+
     it(`WHEN validateCustomVersionsFile on .yaml file with invalid originType THEN fails validation`, function () {
         const invalidFile = validCustomVersionsFile.replace('FIRST_PARTY', 'INVALID_TYPE')
         const errorMessage = validateCustomVersionsFile(invalidFile)