diff --git a/testutil/testdata/testdata.go b/testutil/testdata/testdata.go
index 6d7dbb6a..b6303e26 100644
--- a/testutil/testdata/testdata.go
+++ b/testutil/testdata/testdata.go
@@ -30,3 +30,5 @@ var (
 func (a *TestForwardingAttr) CounterpartyID() string {
 	return a.Planet
 }
+
+func (a *TestForwardingAttr) Validate() error { return nil }
diff --git a/types/core/attributes.go b/types/core/attributes.go
index 033ba5ce..ff087366 100644
--- a/types/core/attributes.go
+++ b/types/core/attributes.go
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ type ActionAttributes interface {
 // attribute type has to implement.
 type ForwardingAttributes interface {
 	proto.Message
-	// Returns the destination chain identifier.
+	// CounterpartyID returns the destination chain identifier.
 	CounterpartyID() string
+	// Validate returns an error if the attributes are not valid.
+	Validate() error
 }