diff --git a/pkg/validate/validate.go b/pkg/validate/validate.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..94ae5de11
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/validate/validate.go
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+package validate
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"regexp"
+)
+
+// TODO: these are rudimentary placeholder validation functions and need
+// additional work to truly match expected syntax rules.
+
+// IsValidLabel checks whether a label key/value pair has correct syntax and
+// character set
+func IsValidLabel(keyval string) (bool, error) {
+	ok, err := regexp.MatchString(`\A([a-zA-Z0-9_.-]+):([a-zA-Z0-9_.-]+)\z`, keyval)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, err
+	}
+	if !ok {
+		return false, fmt.Errorf("invalid label format: %s", keyval)
+	}
+	return true, nil
+}
+
+// IsValidAnnotation checks whether an annotation key/value pair has correct
+// syntax and character set
+func IsValidAnnotation(keyval string) (bool, error) {
+	ok, err := regexp.MatchString(`\A([a-zA-Z0-9_.-]+):([a-zA-Z0-9_.-]+)\z`, keyval)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, err
+	}
+	if !ok {
+		return false, fmt.Errorf("invalid annotation format: %s", keyval)
+	}
+	return true, nil
+}
diff --git a/pkg/validate/validate_test.go b/pkg/validate/validate_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ff84f82b2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/validate/validate_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,103 @@
+package validate
+
+import "testing"
+
+func TestIsValidLabel(t *testing.T) {
+	testcases := []struct {
+		input, name string
+		valid       bool
+	}{
+		{
+			input: "otters:cute",
+			valid: true,
+			name:  "Valid input format",
+		},
+		{
+			input: "dogs,cats",
+			valid: false,
+			name:  "Does not contain colon",
+		},
+		{
+			input: ":noKey",
+			valid: false,
+			name:  "Missing key",
+		},
+		{
+			input: "noValue:",
+			valid: false,
+			name:  "Missing value",
+		},
+		{
+			input: "exclamation!:point",
+			valid: false,
+			name:  "Non-alphanumeric input",
+		},
+		{
+			input: "123:45",
+			valid: true,
+			name:  "Numeric input is allowed",
+		},
+	}
+	for _, tc := range testcases {
+		ok, err := IsValidLabel(tc.input)
+		if tc.valid && err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("unexpected error: for test case %s, expected no error but got: %s", tc.name, err.Error())
+		}
+		if ok && !tc.valid {
+			t.Errorf("for test case %s, expected invalid label format error", tc.name)
+		}
+		if !ok && tc.valid {
+			t.Errorf("unexpected error: for test case %s, expected test to pass", tc.name)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestIsValidAnnotation(t *testing.T) {
+	testcases := []struct {
+		input, name string
+		valid       bool
+	}{
+		{
+			input: "owls:adorable",
+			valid: true,
+			name:  "Valid input format",
+		},
+		{
+			input: "cake,cookies",
+			valid: false,
+			name:  "Does not contain colon",
+		},
+		{
+			input: ":noKey",
+			valid: false,
+			name:  "Missing key",
+		},
+		{
+			input: "noValue:",
+			valid: false,
+			name:  "Missing value",
+		},
+		{
+			input: "exclamation!:point",
+			valid: false,
+			name:  "Input has a bang!",
+		},
+		{
+			input: "987:65",
+			valid: true,
+			name:  "Numeric input is valid",
+		},
+	}
+	for _, tc := range testcases {
+		ok, err := IsValidAnnotation(tc.input)
+		if tc.valid && err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("unexpected error: for test case %s, expected no error but got: %s", tc.name, err.Error())
+		}
+		if ok && !tc.valid {
+			t.Errorf("for test case %s, expected invalid annotation format error", tc.name)
+		}
+		if !ok && tc.valid {
+			t.Errorf("unexpected error: for test case %s, expected test to pass", tc.name)
+		}
+	}
+}