diff --git a/library/common-test/tests/cert/cert_dict_test.yaml b/library/common-test/tests/cert/cert_dict_test.yaml
index 40c3440c93..a28643cd3b 100644
--- a/library/common-test/tests/cert/cert_dict_test.yaml
+++ b/library/common-test/tests/cert/cert_dict_test.yaml
@@ -2,15 +2,6 @@ suite: certificate dict test
 templates:
   - common.yaml
 tests:
-  - it: should fail with no ixCertificates key
-    set:
-      scaleCerts:
-        cert_name:
-          id: 1
-    asserts:
-      - failedTemplate:
-          errorMessage: Key <ixCertificates> does not exist
-
   - it: should fail with empty ixCertificates key
     set:
       scaleCerts:
diff --git a/library/common-test/tests/cert/cert_list_test.yaml b/library/common-test/tests/cert/cert_list_test.yaml
index b08f612d70..5f221ca930 100644
--- a/library/common-test/tests/cert/cert_list_test.yaml
+++ b/library/common-test/tests/cert/cert_list_test.yaml
@@ -2,15 +2,6 @@ suite: certificate list test
 templates:
   - common.yaml
 tests:
-  - it: should fail with no ixCertificates key
-    set:
-      scaleCertsList:
-        - name: cert_name
-          id: 1
-    asserts:
-      - failedTemplate:
-          errorMessage: Key <ixCertificates> does not exist
-
   - it: should fail with empty ixCertificates key
     set:
       scaleCertsList:
diff --git a/library/common-test/tests/externalInterfaces/externalInterfaces_test.yaml b/library/common-test/tests/externalInterfaces/externalInterfaces_test.yaml
index 7534c8b228..5ffd8be95d 100644
--- a/library/common-test/tests/externalInterfaces/externalInterfaces_test.yaml
+++ b/library/common-test/tests/externalInterfaces/externalInterfaces_test.yaml
@@ -104,6 +104,21 @@ tests:
       - failedTemplate:
           errorMessage: <destination> and <gateway> are required when <staticRoutes> are defined. Interface (ens3s0)
 
+  - it: should fail with ixExternalInterfacesConfiguration empty
+    documentIndex: &externalInterfaceDoc 0
+    set:
+      # Only to pass validation
+      externalInterfaces:
+        - hostInterface: ens3s0
+          ipam:
+            type: dhcp
+      # Simulate the ix Injected values
+      ixExternalInterfacesConfiguration:
+        - '{"cniVersion": "0.3.1", "name": "ix-RELEASE-NAME-0", "type": "macvlan", "master": "ens3s0", "ipam": {"type": "dhcp"}}'
+    asserts:
+      - failedTemplate:
+          errorMessage: There are externalInterfaces defined, but key <ixExternalInterfaceConfigurationNames> is empty.
+
   - it: should pass with externalInterface defined
     documentIndex: &externalInterfaceDoc 0
     set:
@@ -115,6 +130,8 @@ tests:
       # Simulate the ix Injected values
       ixExternalInterfacesConfiguration:
         - '{"cniVersion": "0.3.1", "name": "ix-RELEASE-NAME-0", "type": "macvlan", "master": "ens3s0", "ipam": {"type": "dhcp"}}'
+      ixExternalInterfacesConfigurationNames:
+        - ix-RELEASE-NAME-0
     asserts:
       - hasDocuments:
           count: 4
@@ -196,6 +213,9 @@ tests:
       ixExternalInterfacesConfiguration:
         - '{"cniVersion": "0.3.1", "name": "ix-RELEASE-NAME-0", "type": "macvlan", "master": "ens3s0", "ipam": {"type": "dhcp"}}'
         - '{"cniVersion": "0.3.1", "name": "ix-RELEASE-NAME-1", "type": "macvlan", "master": "ens5s0", "ipam": {"type": "dhcp"}}'
+      ixExternalInterfacesConfigurationNames:
+        - ix-RELEASE-NAME-0
+        - ix-RELEASE-NAME-1
     asserts:
       - hasDocuments:
           count: 5
@@ -253,6 +273,8 @@ tests:
       # Simulate the ix Injected values
       ixExternalInterfacesConfiguration:
         - '{"cniVersion": "0.3.1", "name": "ix-RELEASE-NAME-0", "type": "macvlan", "master": "ens3s0", "ipam": {"type": "dhcp"}}'
+      ixExternalInterfacesConfigurationNames:
+        - ix-RELEASE-NAME-0
     asserts:
       - hasDocuments:
           count: 4
@@ -283,6 +305,8 @@ tests:
       # Simulate the ix Injected values
       ixExternalInterfacesConfiguration:
         - '{"cniVersion": "0.3.1", "name": "ix-RELEASE-NAME-0", "type": "macvlan", "master": "ens3s0", "ipam": {"type": "dhcp"}}'
+      ixExternalInterfacesConfigurationNames:
+        - ix-RELEASE-NAME-0
     asserts:
       - hasDocuments:
           count: 4
@@ -311,6 +335,8 @@ tests:
       # Simulate the ix Injected values
       ixExternalInterfacesConfiguration:
         - '{"cniVersion": "0.3.1", "name": "ix-RELEASE-NAME-0", "type": "macvlan", "master": "ens3s0", "ipam": {"type": "dhcp"}}'
+      ixExternalInterfacesConfigurationNames:
+        - ix-RELEASE-NAME-0
     asserts:
       - hasDocuments:
           count: 4
@@ -349,6 +375,8 @@ tests:
       # Simulate the ix Injected values
       ixExternalInterfacesConfiguration:
         - '{"cniVersion": "0.3.1", "name": "ix-RELEASE-NAME-0", "type": "macvlan", "master": "ens3s0", "ipam": {"type": "dhcp"}}'
+      ixExternalInterfacesConfigurationNames:
+        - ix-RELEASE-NAME-0
     asserts:
       - hasDocuments:
           count: 4
diff --git a/library/common/1.0.0/templates/lib/general/_annotations.tpl b/library/common/1.0.0/templates/lib/general/_annotations.tpl
index 96a4c88f25..2b90a09025 100644
--- a/library/common/1.0.0/templates/lib/general/_annotations.tpl
+++ b/library/common/1.0.0/templates/lib/general/_annotations.tpl
@@ -13,9 +13,13 @@ These annotations will be applied to all "workload" "spec" objects
 Rendered under ".spec.template.metadata.annotations"
 */}}
 {{- define "ix.v1.common.annotations.workload.spec" -}}
-  {{- if .Values.ixExternalInterfacesConfigurationNames }}
+  {{- if .Values.ixExternalInterfacesConfiguration -}}
+    {{- if .Values.ixExternalInterfacesConfigurationNames }}
 k8s.v1.cni.cncf.io/networks: {{ join ", " .Values.ixExternalInterfacesConfigurationNames }}
-  {{- end }}
+    {{- else -}}
+      {{- fail "There are externalInterfaces defined, but key <ixExternalInterfaceConfigurationNames> is empty." -}}
+    {{- end }}
+  {{- end -}}
 {{- end -}}
 
 {{/*