diff --git a/compiler/native/compile.go b/compiler/native/compile.go
index b0648ded0..206124519 100644
--- a/compiler/native/compile.go
+++ b/compiler/native/compile.go
@@ -50,12 +50,6 @@ func (c *client) Compile(v interface{}) (*pipeline.Build, *library.Pipeline, err
 	_pipeline.SetData(data)
 	_pipeline.SetType(c.repo.GetPipelineType())
 
-	// validate the yaml configuration
-	err = c.Validate(p)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, _pipeline, err
-	}
-
 	// create map of templates for easy lookup
 	templates := mapFromTemplates(p.Templates)
 
diff --git a/compiler/native/validate.go b/compiler/native/validate.go
index 1d5b0440b..e3c79d862 100644
--- a/compiler/native/validate.go
+++ b/compiler/native/validate.go
@@ -101,8 +101,8 @@ func validateStages(s yaml.StageSlice) error {
 				return fmt.Errorf("no name provided for step for stage %s", stage.Name)
 			}
 
-			if len(step.Image) == 0 && len(step.Template.Name) == 0 {
-				return fmt.Errorf("no image or template provided for step %s for stage %s", step.Name, stage.Name)
+			if len(step.Image) == 0 {
+				return fmt.Errorf("no image provided for step %s for stage %s", step.Name, stage.Name)
 			}
 
 			if step.Name == "clone" || step.Name == "init" {
@@ -128,8 +128,8 @@ func validateSteps(s yaml.StepSlice) error {
 			return fmt.Errorf("no name provided for step")
 		}
 
-		if len(step.Image) == 0 && len(step.Template.Name) == 0 {
-			return fmt.Errorf("no image or template provided for step %s", step.Name)
+		if len(step.Image) == 0 {
+			return fmt.Errorf("no image provided for step %s", step.Name)
 		}
 
 		if step.Name == "clone" || step.Name == "init" {