diff --git a/solutions/fully-configurable/variables.tf b/solutions/fully-configurable/variables.tf
index c261c807..94fe13f6 100644
--- a/solutions/fully-configurable/variables.tf
+++ b/solutions/fully-configurable/variables.tf
@@ -36,11 +36,18 @@ variable "prefix" {
   }
 
   validation {
-    # must not exceed 16 characters in length
-    condition     = length(var.prefix) <= 16
-    error_message = "Prefix must not exceed 16 characters."
-  }
-}
+
+
+  # must not exceed 16 characters in length
+
+
+  condition = var.prefix == null || var.prefix == "" ? true : length(var.prefix) <= 16
+
+
+  error_message = "Prefix must not exceed 16 characters."
+
+
+  }}
 
 variable "name" {
   type        = string
diff --git a/solutions/security-enforced/variables.tf b/solutions/security-enforced/variables.tf
index eb9a5a72..dde9894a 100644
--- a/solutions/security-enforced/variables.tf
+++ b/solutions/security-enforced/variables.tf
@@ -36,11 +36,18 @@ variable "prefix" {
   }
 
   validation {
-    # must not exceed 16 characters in length
-    condition     = length(var.prefix) <= 16
-    error_message = "Prefix must not exceed 16 characters."
-  }
-}
+
+
+  # must not exceed 16 characters in length
+
+
+  condition = var.prefix == null || var.prefix == "" ? true : length(var.prefix) <= 16
+
+
+  error_message = "Prefix must not exceed 16 characters."
+
+
+  }}
 
 variable "name" {
   type        = string