diff --git a/model/relabel/relabel_test.go b/model/relabel/relabel_test.go
index fbf8f05e07..c5064540f7 100644
--- a/model/relabel/relabel_test.go
+++ b/model/relabel/relabel_test.go
@@ -815,10 +815,8 @@ func TestTargetLabelValidity(t *testing.T) {
 				require.Equal(t, test.valid, relabelTargetUTF8.Match([]byte(test.str)),
 					"Expected %q to be %v", test.str, test.valid)
 			})
-
 		}
 	})
-
 }
 
 func BenchmarkRelabel(b *testing.B) {
diff --git a/model/rulefmt/rulefmt.go b/model/rulefmt/rulefmt.go
index 76b12f0e5c..4769e6d5ba 100644
--- a/model/rulefmt/rulefmt.go
+++ b/model/rulefmt/rulefmt.go
@@ -233,6 +233,14 @@ func (r *RuleNode) Validate() (nodes []WrappedError) {
 				node: &r.Record,
 			})
 		}
+		// While record is a valid UTF-8 it's common mistake to put PromQL expression in the record name.
+		// Disallow "{}" chars.
+		if strings.Contains(r.Record.Value, "{") || strings.Contains(r.Record.Value, "}") {
+			nodes = append(nodes, WrappedError{
+				err:  fmt.Errorf("potential issue in the recording rule name; should it be in expr?: %s", r.Record.Value),
+				node: &r.Record,
+			})
+		}
 	}
 
 	for k, v := range r.Labels {
diff --git a/model/rulefmt/rulefmt_test.go b/model/rulefmt/rulefmt_test.go
index 286e760a41..f24b02f7b3 100644
--- a/model/rulefmt/rulefmt_test.go
+++ b/model/rulefmt/rulefmt_test.go
@@ -26,10 +26,15 @@ import (
 func TestParseFileSuccess(t *testing.T) {
 	_, errs := ParseFile("testdata/test.yaml", false)
 	require.Empty(t, errs, "unexpected errors parsing file")
+
+	_, errs = ParseFile("testdata/utf-8_lname.good.yaml", false)
+	require.Empty(t, errs, "unexpected errors parsing file")
+	_, errs = ParseFile("testdata/utf-8_annotation.good.yaml", false)
+	require.Empty(t, errs, "unexpected errors parsing file")
 }
 
 func TestParseFileFailure(t *testing.T) {
-	table := []struct {
+	for _, c := range []struct {
 		filename string
 		errMsg   string
 	}{
@@ -53,17 +58,9 @@ func TestParseFileFailure(t *testing.T) {
 			filename: "noexpr.bad.yaml",
 			errMsg:   "field 'expr' must be set in rule",
 		},
-		{
-			filename: "bad_lname.bad.yaml",
-			errMsg:   "invalid label name",
-		},
-		{
-			filename: "bad_annotation.bad.yaml",
-			errMsg:   "invalid annotation name",
-		},
 		{
 			filename: "invalid_record_name.bad.yaml",
-			errMsg:   "invalid recording rule name",
+			errMsg:   "potential issue in the recording rule name; should it be in expr?: strawberry{flavor=\"sweet\"}",
 		},
 		{
 			filename: "bad_field.bad.yaml",
@@ -81,12 +78,12 @@ func TestParseFileFailure(t *testing.T) {
 			filename: "record_and_keep_firing_for.bad.yaml",
 			errMsg:   "invalid field 'keep_firing_for' in recording rule",
 		},
-	}
-
-	for _, c := range table {
-		_, errs := ParseFile(filepath.Join("testdata", c.filename), false)
-		require.NotEmpty(t, errs, "Expected error parsing %s but got none", c.filename)
-		require.ErrorContainsf(t, errs[0], c.errMsg, "Expected error for %s.", c.filename)
+	} {
+		t.Run(c.filename, func(t *testing.T) {
+			_, errs := ParseFile(filepath.Join("testdata", c.filename), false)
+			require.NotEmpty(t, errs, "Expected error parsing %s but got none", c.filename)
+			require.ErrorContainsf(t, errs[0], c.errMsg, "Expected error for %s.", c.filename)
+		})
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/model/rulefmt/testdata/bad_annotation.bad.yaml b/model/rulefmt/testdata/utf-8_annotation.good.yaml
similarity index 100%
rename from model/rulefmt/testdata/bad_annotation.bad.yaml
rename to model/rulefmt/testdata/utf-8_annotation.good.yaml
diff --git a/model/rulefmt/testdata/bad_lname.bad.yaml b/model/rulefmt/testdata/utf-8_lname.good.yaml
similarity index 100%
rename from model/rulefmt/testdata/bad_lname.bad.yaml
rename to model/rulefmt/testdata/utf-8_lname.good.yaml