diff --git a/image/image.go b/image/image.go
index 1551c1c..5048cbe 100644
--- a/image/image.go
+++ b/image/image.go
@@ -66,6 +66,12 @@ func validate(w walker, refs []string, out *log.Logger) error {
 		}
 	}
 
+	for _, refName := range refs {
+		if err = refsNameRegexpCheck(refName); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+
 	for _, ref := range refs {
 		d, ok := ds[ref]
 		if !ok {
@@ -115,6 +121,10 @@ func Unpack(tarFile, dest, ref string) error {
 }
 
 func unpack(w walker, dest, refName string) error {
+	if err := refsNameRegexpCheck(refName); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	ref, err := findDescriptor(w, refName)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -157,6 +167,10 @@ func CreateRuntimeBundle(tarFile, dest, ref, root string) error {
 }
 
 func createRuntimeBundle(w walker, dest, refName, rootfs string) error {
+	if err := refsNameRegexpCheck(refName); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	ref, err := findDescriptor(w, refName)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -198,3 +212,10 @@ func createRuntimeBundle(w walker, dest, refName, rootfs string) error {
 
 	return json.NewEncoder(f).Encode(spec)
 }
+
+func refsNameRegexpCheck(refName string) error {
+	if boolRefsNameMatch := v1.RefsRegexp.MatchString(refName); !boolRefsNameMatch {
+		return fmt.Errorf("input parameter --ref (%s) is invalide", refName)
+	}
+	return nil
+}