diff --git a/public/app/features/alerting/unified/components/rule-editor/FolderAndGroup.tsx b/public/app/features/alerting/unified/components/rule-editor/FolderAndGroup.tsx
index be1e2ee99b7..6b9aee47954 100644
--- a/public/app/features/alerting/unified/components/rule-editor/FolderAndGroup.tsx
+++ b/public/app/features/alerting/unified/components/rule-editor/FolderAndGroup.tsx
@@ -203,6 +203,9 @@ export function FolderAndGroup({ initialFolder }: FolderAndGroupProps) {
           control={control}
           rules={{
             required: { value: true, message: 'Must enter a group name' },
+            validate: {
+              pathSeparator: (group_: string) => checkForPathSeparator(group_),
+            },
           }}
         />
       </Field>