diff --git a/pkg/registry/flowcontrol/prioritylevelconfiguration/declarative_validation_test.go b/pkg/registry/flowcontrol/prioritylevelconfiguration/declarative_validation_test.go
index d3af47834c2..e415b90a495 100644
--- a/pkg/registry/flowcontrol/prioritylevelconfiguration/declarative_validation_test.go
+++ b/pkg/registry/flowcontrol/prioritylevelconfiguration/declarative_validation_test.go
@@ -103,6 +103,18 @@ func testDeclarativeValidate(t *testing.T, apiVersion string) {
 				field.Forbidden(specPath.Child("limited", "limitResponse", "queuing"), "").MarkCoveredByDeclarative().MarkAlpha(),
 			},
 		},
+		"spec.type: empty": {
+			input: mkPLC(tweakSpecType(""), tweakLimited(nil)),
+			expectedErrs: field.ErrorList{
+				field.Required(specPath.Child("type"), "").MarkCoveredByDeclarative().MarkAlpha(),
+			},
+		},
+		"limitResponse.type: empty": {
+			input: mkPLC(tweakLimitResponseType("")),
+			expectedErrs: field.ErrorList{
+				field.Required(specPath.Child("limited", "limitResponse", "type"), "").MarkCoveredByDeclarative().MarkAlpha(),
+			},
+		},
 	}
 
 	for name, tc := range testCases {
@@ -226,6 +238,13 @@ func tweakLimited(limited *flowcontrol.LimitedPriorityLevelConfiguration) func(*
 	}
 }
 
+// tweakSpecType sets the Spec.Type field directly.
+func tweakSpecType(t flowcontrol.PriorityLevelEnablement) func(*flowcontrol.PriorityLevelConfiguration) {
+	return func(obj *flowcontrol.PriorityLevelConfiguration) {
+		obj.Spec.Type = t
+	}
+}
+
 // tweakExemptConfig sets the Exempt configuration field.
 func tweakExemptConfig(exempt *flowcontrol.ExemptPriorityLevelConfiguration) func(*flowcontrol.PriorityLevelConfiguration) {
 	return func(obj *flowcontrol.PriorityLevelConfiguration) {