diff --git a/lib/utils.js b/lib/utils.js
index 50ea6e4..5350f69 100644
--- a/lib/utils.js
+++ b/lib/utils.js
@@ -106,8 +106,9 @@ module.exports = {
    * @returns  Joi validation Rules
    */
   createJoiValidationRules: function(route) {
-
-    route.config.validate.body = route.config.validate.payload // hapi compatibility
+    if (route.config.validate.payload) {
+      route.config.validate.body = route.config.validate.payload // hapi compatibility
+    }
     const validation = route.config.validate
     const types = ['headers', 'params', 'query', 'body']
     types.forEach((type) => {