diff --git a/polkadot/runtime/parachains/src/configuration.rs b/polkadot/runtime/parachains/src/configuration.rs
index 11c257bea4..dc303ef406 100644
--- a/polkadot/runtime/parachains/src/configuration.rs
+++ b/polkadot/runtime/parachains/src/configuration.rs
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ impl<BlockNumber: Default + From<u32>> Default for HostConfiguration<BlockNumber
 			thread_availability_period: 1u32.into(),
 			no_show_slots: 1u32.into(),
 			validation_upgrade_frequency: Default::default(),
-			validation_upgrade_delay: Default::default(),
+			validation_upgrade_delay: 2u32.into(),
 			code_retention_period: Default::default(),
 			max_code_size: Default::default(),
 			max_pov_size: Default::default(),
@@ -288,9 +288,14 @@ pub enum InconsistentError<BlockNumber> {
 		minimum_validation_upgrade_delay: BlockNumber,
 		thread_availability_period: BlockNumber,
 	},
+	/// `validation_upgrade_delay` is less than or equal 1.
+	ValidationUpgradeDelayIsTooLow { validation_upgrade_delay: BlockNumber },
 }
 
-impl<BlockNumber: Zero + PartialOrd + sp_std::fmt::Debug + Clone> HostConfiguration<BlockNumber> {
+impl<BlockNumber> HostConfiguration<BlockNumber>
+where
+	BlockNumber: Zero + PartialOrd + sp_std::fmt::Debug + Clone + From<u32>,
+{
 	/// Checks that this instance is consistent with the requirements on each individual member.
 	///
 	/// # Errors
@@ -341,6 +346,12 @@ impl<BlockNumber: Zero + PartialOrd + sp_std::fmt::Debug + Clone> HostConfigurat
 			})
 		}
 
+		if self.validation_upgrade_delay <= 1.into() {
+			return Err(ValidationUpgradeDelayIsTooLow {
+				validation_upgrade_delay: self.validation_upgrade_delay.clone(),
+			})
+		}
+
 		Ok(())
 	}
 
@@ -1499,6 +1510,11 @@ mod tests {
 				Configuration::set_minimum_validation_upgrade_delay(Origin::root(), 9),
 				Error::<Test>::InvalidNewValue
 			);
+
+			assert_err!(
+				Configuration::set_validation_upgrade_delay(Origin::root(), 0),
+				Error::<Test>::InvalidNewValue
+			);
 		});
 	}
 
diff --git a/polkadot/runtime/parachains/src/inclusion/tests.rs b/polkadot/runtime/parachains/src/inclusion/tests.rs
index 12dbb76640..4f727348d2 100644
--- a/polkadot/runtime/parachains/src/inclusion/tests.rs
+++ b/polkadot/runtime/parachains/src/inclusion/tests.rs
@@ -1307,7 +1307,7 @@ fn candidate_checks() {
 			{
 				let cfg = Configuration::config();
 				let expected_at = 10 + cfg.validation_upgrade_delay;
-				assert_eq!(expected_at, 10);
+				assert_eq!(expected_at, 12);
 				Paras::schedule_code_upgrade(chain_a, vec![1, 2, 3, 4].into(), expected_at, &cfg);
 			}