diff --git a/solutions/fully-configurable/variables.tf b/solutions/fully-configurable/variables.tf
index c261c807..d4b60ff2 100644
--- a/solutions/fully-configurable/variables.tf
+++ b/solutions/fully-configurable/variables.tf
@@ -36,9 +36,17 @@ variable "prefix" {
   }
 
   validation {
+
+
     # must not exceed 16 characters in length
-    condition     = length(var.prefix) <= 16
+
+
+    condition = var.prefix == null || var.prefix == "" ? true : length(var.prefix) <= 16
+
+
     error_message = "Prefix must not exceed 16 characters."
+
+
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/solutions/security-enforced/variables.tf b/solutions/security-enforced/variables.tf
index eb9a5a72..dc957893 100644
--- a/solutions/security-enforced/variables.tf
+++ b/solutions/security-enforced/variables.tf
@@ -36,9 +36,17 @@ variable "prefix" {
   }
 
   validation {
+
+
     # must not exceed 16 characters in length
-    condition     = length(var.prefix) <= 16
+
+
+    condition = var.prefix == null || var.prefix == "" ? true : length(var.prefix) <= 16
+
+
     error_message = "Prefix must not exceed 16 characters."
+
+
   }
 }