diff --git a/vault/logical_backend.go b/vault/logical_backend.go
index b698c26080..ccafe1a36a 100644
--- a/vault/logical_backend.go
+++ b/vault/logical_backend.go
@@ -112,6 +112,23 @@ type Lease struct {
 	MaxIncrement time.Duration // Maximum increment to lease duration
 }
 
+// Validate is used to sanity check a lease
+func (l *Lease) Validate() error {
+	if l.Duration <= 0 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("lease duration must be greater than zero")
+	}
+	if l.MaxDuration <= 0 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("maximum lease duration must be greater than zero")
+	}
+	if l.Duration > l.MaxDuration {
+		return fmt.Errorf("lease duration cannot be greater than maximum lease duration")
+	}
+	if l.MaxIncrement < 0 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("maximum lease increment cannot be negative")
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 // Factory is the factory function to create a logical backend.
 type Factory func(map[string]string) (LogicalBackend, error)
 
diff --git a/vault/logical_backend_test.go b/vault/logical_backend_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1a7e8bab88
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vault/logical_backend_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+package vault
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+)
+
+func TestLease_Validate(t *testing.T) {
+	l := &Lease{}
+	if err := l.Validate(); err.Error() != "lease duration must be greater than zero" {
+		t.Fatalf("err: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	l.Duration = time.Minute
+	if err := l.Validate(); err.Error() != "maximum lease duration must be greater than zero" {
+		t.Fatalf("err: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	l.MaxDuration = time.Second
+	if err := l.Validate(); err.Error() != "lease duration cannot be greater than maximum lease duration" {
+		t.Fatalf("err: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	l.MaxDuration = time.Minute
+	l.MaxIncrement = -1 * time.Second
+	if err := l.Validate(); err.Error() != "maximum lease increment cannot be negative" {
+		t.Fatalf("err: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	l.MaxIncrement = time.Second
+	if err := l.Validate(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("err: %v", err)
+	}
+}