diff --git a/polkadot/runtime/common/src/lib.rs b/polkadot/runtime/common/src/lib.rs
index 9569412b7c..ed0aad5950 100644
--- a/polkadot/runtime/common/src/lib.rs
+++ b/polkadot/runtime/common/src/lib.rs
@@ -49,6 +49,10 @@ pub use impls::ToAuthor;
 
 pub type NegativeImbalance<T> = <pallet_balances::Module<T> as Currency<<T as frame_system::Trait>::AccountId>>::NegativeImbalance;
 
+/// The sequence of bytes a valid wasm module binary always starts with. Apart from that it's also a
+/// valid wasm module.
+const WASM_MAGIC: &[u8] = &[0x00, 0x61, 0x73, 0x6d, 0x01, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00];
+
 /// We assume that an on-initialize consumes 2.5% of the weight on average, hence a single extrinsic
 /// will not be allowed to consume more than `AvailableBlockRatio - 2.5%`.
 pub const AVERAGE_ON_INITIALIZE_WEIGHT: Perbill = Perbill::from_perthousand(25);
diff --git a/polkadot/runtime/common/src/paras_registrar.rs b/polkadot/runtime/common/src/paras_registrar.rs
index 6ecd99aee9..474402d61f 100644
--- a/polkadot/runtime/common/src/paras_registrar.rs
+++ b/polkadot/runtime/common/src/paras_registrar.rs
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@
 //! Module to handle parathread/parachain registration and related fund management.
 //! In essence this is a simple wrapper around `paras`.
 
+use crate::WASM_MAGIC;
 use sp_std::{prelude::*, result};
-
 use frame_support::{
 	decl_storage, decl_module, decl_error, ensure,
 	dispatch::DispatchResult,
@@ -86,6 +86,8 @@ decl_error! {
 		HeadDataTooLarge,
 		/// Parathreads registration is disabled.
 		ParathreadsRegistrationDisabled,
+		/// The validation code provided doesn't start with the Wasm file magic string.
+		DefinitelyNotWasm,
 	}
 }
 
@@ -96,7 +98,7 @@ decl_module! {
 		/// Register a parathread with given code for immediate use.
 		///
 		/// Must be sent from a Signed origin that is able to have `ParathreadDeposit` reserved.
-		/// `gensis_head` and `validation_code` are used to initalize the parathread's state.
+		/// `genesis_head` and `validation_code` are used to initalize the parathread's state.
 		#[weight = 0]
 		fn register_parathread(
 			origin,
@@ -107,6 +109,7 @@ decl_module! {
 			let who = ensure_signed(origin)?;
 
 			ensure!(ParathreadsRegistrationEnabled::get(), Error::<T>::ParathreadsRegistrationDisabled);
+			ensure!(validation_code.0.starts_with(WASM_MAGIC), Error::<T>::DefinitelyNotWasm);
 
 			ensure!(!Paras::contains_key(id), Error::<T>::ParaAlreadyExists);
 
@@ -217,6 +220,7 @@ impl<T: Trait> Module<T> {
 		validation_code: ValidationCode,
 	) -> DispatchResult {
 		ensure!(!Paras::contains_key(id), Error::<T>::ParaAlreadyExists);
+		ensure!(validation_code.0.starts_with(WASM_MAGIC), Error::<T>::DefinitelyNotWasm);
 
 		let outgoing = <paras::Module<T>>::outgoing_paras();
 
@@ -609,7 +613,7 @@ mod tests {
 			assert_ok!(Registrar::register_parachain(
 				2u32.into(),
 				vec![3; 3].into(),
-				vec![3; 3].into(),
+				WASM_MAGIC.to_vec().into(),
 			));
 
 			let orig_bal = Balances::free_balance(&3u64);
@@ -619,7 +623,7 @@ mod tests {
 				Origin::signed(3u64),
 				8u32.into(),
 				vec![3; 3].into(),
-				vec![3; 3].into(),
+				WASM_MAGIC.to_vec().into(),
 			));
 
 			// deposit should be taken (reserved)
@@ -658,13 +662,13 @@ mod tests {
 				Origin::signed(1),
 				8u32.into(),
 				vec![1; 3].into(),
-				vec![1; 3].into(),
+				WASM_MAGIC.to_vec().into(),
 			));
 
 			assert_ok!(Registrar::register_parachain(
 				2u32.into(),
 				vec![1; 3].into(),
-				vec![1; 3].into(),
+				WASM_MAGIC.to_vec().into(),
 			));
 
 			run_to_block(9);
@@ -692,7 +696,7 @@ mod tests {
 			assert_ok!(Registrar::register_parachain(
 				1u32.into(),
 				vec![1; 3].into(),
-				vec![1; 3].into(),
+				WASM_MAGIC.to_vec().into(),
 			));
 
 			run_to_block(4);
@@ -703,7 +707,7 @@ mod tests {
 			assert!(Registrar::register_parachain(
 				1u32.into(),
 				vec![1; 3].into(),
-				vec![1; 3].into(),
+				WASM_MAGIC.to_vec().into(),
 			).is_err());
 
 			run_to_block(6);
@@ -711,7 +715,7 @@ mod tests {
 			assert_ok!(Registrar::register_parachain(
 				1u32.into(),
 				vec![1; 3].into(),
-				vec![1; 3].into(),
+				WASM_MAGIC.to_vec().into(),
 			));
 		});
 	}
diff --git a/polkadot/runtime/common/src/paras_sudo_wrapper.rs b/polkadot/runtime/common/src/paras_sudo_wrapper.rs
index c6b1817f0a..fcaf598d64 100644
--- a/polkadot/runtime/common/src/paras_sudo_wrapper.rs
+++ b/polkadot/runtime/common/src/paras_sudo_wrapper.rs
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 //! A simple wrapper allowing `Sudo` to call into `paras` routines.
 
+use crate::WASM_MAGIC;
 use sp_std::prelude::*;
 use frame_support::{
 	decl_error, decl_module, ensure,
@@ -41,6 +42,8 @@ decl_error! {
 		/// A DMP message couldn't be sent because it exceeds the maximum size allowed for a downward
 		/// message.
 		ExceedsMaxMessageSize,
+		/// The validation code provided doesn't start with the Wasm file magic string.
+		DefinitelyNotWasm,
 	}
 }
 
@@ -57,6 +60,7 @@ decl_module! {
 			genesis: ParaGenesisArgs,
 		) -> DispatchResult {
 			ensure_root(origin)?;
+			ensure!(genesis.validation_code.0.starts_with(WASM_MAGIC), Error::<T>::DefinitelyNotWasm);
 			runtime_parachains::schedule_para_initialize::<T>(id, genesis);
 			Ok(())
 		}