diff --git a/cql3/statements/cf_prop_defs.cc b/cql3/statements/cf_prop_defs.cc
index 3476ceb0d7..1a130220db 100644
--- a/cql3/statements/cf_prop_defs.cc
+++ b/cql3/statements/cf_prop_defs.cc
@@ -157,6 +157,7 @@ void cf_prop_defs::validate(const database& db, const schema::extensions_map& sc
     }
 
     validate_minimum_int(KW_DEFAULT_TIME_TO_LIVE, 0, DEFAULT_DEFAULT_TIME_TO_LIVE);
+    validate_minimum_int(KW_PAXOSGRACESECONDS, 0, DEFAULT_GC_GRACE_SECONDS);
 
     auto min_index_interval = get_int(KW_MIN_INDEX_INTERVAL, DEFAULT_MIN_INDEX_INTERVAL);
     auto max_index_interval = get_int(KW_MAX_INDEX_INTERVAL, DEFAULT_MAX_INDEX_INTERVAL);