diff --git a/heat/engine/resources/openstack/nova/keypair.py b/heat/engine/resources/openstack/nova/keypair.py
index b7994cc1d5..25df73acaa 100644
--- a/heat/engine/resources/openstack/nova/keypair.py
+++ b/heat/engine/resources/openstack/nova/keypair.py
@@ -22,7 +22,8 @@ from heat.engine import translation
 
 
 NOVA_MICROVERSIONS = (MICROVERSION_KEY_TYPE,
-                      MICROVERSION_USER) = ('2.2', '2.10')
+                      MICROVERSION_USER,
+                      MICROVERSION_PUBLIC_KEY) = ('2.2', '2.10', '2.92')
 
 
 class KeyPair(resource.Resource):
@@ -71,9 +72,10 @@ class KeyPair(resource.Resource):
         ),
         PUBLIC_KEY: properties.Schema(
             properties.Schema.STRING,
-            _('The optional public key. This allows users to supply the '
-              'public key from a pre-existing key pair. If not supplied, a '
-              'new key pair will be generated.')
+            _('The public key. This allows users to supply the public key '
+              'from a pre-existing key pair. In Nova api version < 2.92, '
+              'if not supplied, a new key pair will be generated. '
+              'This property is required since Nova api version 2.92.')
         ),
         KEY_TYPE: properties.Schema(
             properties.Schema.STRING,
@@ -148,6 +150,7 @@ class KeyPair(resource.Resource):
         # Check if key_type is allowed to use
         key_type = self.properties[self.KEY_TYPE]
         user = self.properties[self.USER]
+        public_key = self.properties[self.PUBLIC_KEY]
 
         validate_props = []
         c_plugin = self.client_plugin()
@@ -161,6 +164,12 @@ class KeyPair(resource.Resource):
                      'support required api microversion.') % validate_props)
             raise exception.StackValidationFailed(message=msg)
 
+        if not public_key and c_plugin.is_version_supported(
+                MICROVERSION_PUBLIC_KEY):
+            msg = _('The public_key property is required by the nova API '
+                    'version currently used.')
+            raise exception.StackValidationFailed(message=msg)
+
     def handle_create(self):
         pub_key = self.properties[self.PUBLIC_KEY] or None
         user_id = self.properties[self.USER]
diff --git a/heat/tests/openstack/nova/test_keypair.py b/heat/tests/openstack/nova/test_keypair.py
index 29c92c0f03..83dd116d36 100644
--- a/heat/tests/openstack/nova/test_keypair.py
+++ b/heat/tests/openstack/nova/test_keypair.py
@@ -201,6 +201,29 @@ class NovaKeyPairTest(common.HeatTestCase):
                          return_value='2.1')
         self._test_validate(user='user_A')
 
+    def test_validate_public_key(self):
+        self.patchobject(nova.NovaClientPlugin, 'get_max_microversion',
+                         return_value='2.92')
+        template = copy.deepcopy(self.kp_template)
+        template['resources']['kp']['properties']['public_key'] = 'dummy'
+        stack = utils.parse_stack(template)
+        definition = stack.t.resource_definitions(stack)['kp']
+        kp_res = keypair.KeyPair('kp', definition, stack)
+        kp_res.validate()
+
+    def test_validate_public_key_fail(self):
+        self.patchobject(nova.NovaClientPlugin, 'get_max_microversion',
+                         return_value='2.92')
+        template = copy.deepcopy(self.kp_template)
+        stack = utils.parse_stack(template)
+        definition = stack.t.resource_definitions(stack)['kp']
+        kp_res = keypair.KeyPair('kp', definition, stack)
+        error = self.assertRaises(exception.StackValidationFailed,
+                                  kp_res.validate)
+        msg = ('The public_key property is required by the nova API version '
+               'currently used.')
+        self.assertIn(msg, str(error))
+
     def test_check_key(self):
         res = self._get_test_resource(self.kp_template)
         res.state_set(res.CREATE, res.COMPLETE, 'for test')