diff --git a/apps/assistants/forms.py b/apps/assistants/forms.py
index 57e35781d..4c2cde281 100644
--- a/apps/assistants/forms.py
+++ b/apps/assistants/forms.py
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ def clean(self):
         validate_prompt_variables(
             form_data=cleaned_data,
             prompt_key="instructions",
-            known_vars={"participant_data", "current_datetime"},
+            known_vars=OpenAiAssistant.ALLOWED_INSTRUCTIONS_VARIABLES,
         )
         return cleaned_data
 
diff --git a/apps/assistants/models.py b/apps/assistants/models.py
index f167ed66c..391b61bc1 100644
--- a/apps/assistants/models.py
+++ b/apps/assistants/models.py
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ class OpenAiAssistantManager(VersionsObjectManagerMixin, AuditingManager):
     audit_special_queryset_writes=True,
 )
 class OpenAiAssistant(BaseTeamModel, VersionsMixin):
+    ALLOWED_INSTRUCTIONS_VARIABLES = {"participant_data", "current_datetime"}
+
     assistant_id = models.CharField(max_length=255)
     name = models.CharField(max_length=255)
     instructions = models.TextField()
diff --git a/apps/assistants/sync.py b/apps/assistants/sync.py
index f7d2d9f51..978bc9c74 100644
--- a/apps/assistants/sync.py
+++ b/apps/assistants/sync.py
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@
 
 import openai
 from django.db.models import Count, Subquery
+from django.forms import ValidationError
 from langchain_core.utils.function_calling import convert_to_openai_tool as lc_convert_to_openai_tool
 from openai import OpenAI
 from openai.types.beta import Assistant
@@ -72,6 +73,7 @@
 from apps.files.models import File
 from apps.service_providers.models import LlmProvider, LlmProviderModel, LlmProviderTypes
 from apps.teams.models import Team
+from apps.utils.prompt import validate_prompt_variables
 
 logger = logging.getLogger("openai_sync")
 
@@ -94,6 +96,8 @@ def _inner(*args, **kwargs):
                     pass
 
             raise OpenAiSyncError(message) from e
+        except ValidationError as e:
+            raise OpenAiSyncError(str(e)) from e
 
     return _inner
 
@@ -167,11 +171,20 @@ def import_openai_assistant(assistant_id: str, llm_provider: LlmProvider, team:
     client = llm_provider.get_llm_service().get_raw_client()
     openai_assistant = client.beta.assistants.retrieve(assistant_id)
     kwargs = _openai_assistant_to_ocs_kwargs(openai_assistant, team=team, llm_provider=llm_provider)
+    validate_instructions(kwargs["instructions"])
     assistant = OpenAiAssistant.objects.create(**kwargs)
     _sync_tool_resources_from_openai(openai_assistant, assistant)
     return assistant
 
 
+def validate_instructions(instructions: str):
+    validate_prompt_variables(
+        form_data={"instructions": instructions},
+        prompt_key="instructions",
+        known_vars=OpenAiAssistant.ALLOWED_INSTRUCTIONS_VARIABLES,
+    )
+
+
 @wrap_openai_errors
 def delete_openai_assistant(assistant: OpenAiAssistant):
     """Deletes the assistant from OpenAI and removes all associated files.
diff --git a/apps/assistants/tests/test_sync.py b/apps/assistants/tests/test_sync.py
index 62c7f1729..d40612933 100644
--- a/apps/assistants/tests/test_sync.py
+++ b/apps/assistants/tests/test_sync.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import dataclasses
+import re
 from io import BytesIO
 from unittest.mock import call, patch
 
@@ -7,6 +8,7 @@
 
 from apps.assistants.models import ToolResources
 from apps.assistants.sync import (
+    OpenAiSyncError,
     _update_or_create_vector_store,
     delete_openai_assistant,
     get_out_of_sync_files,
@@ -218,6 +220,18 @@ def test_import_openai_assistant(_, mock_file_retrieve, mock_vector_store_files,
     ]
 
 
+@pytest.mark.django_db()
+@patch("openai.resources.beta.Assistants.retrieve")
+def test_import_openai_assistant_raises_for_invalid_instructions(mock_retrieve):
+    remote_assistant = AssistantFactory(instructions="This is a test with a {invalid_variable}")
+    mock_retrieve.return_value = remote_assistant
+    llm_provider = LlmProviderFactory()
+
+    expected_error_msg = "{'instructions': ['Prompt contains unknown variables: invalid_variable']}"
+    with pytest.raises(OpenAiSyncError, match=re.escape(expected_error_msg)):
+        import_openai_assistant("123", llm_provider, llm_provider.team)
+
+
 @pytest.mark.django_db()
 @patch("openai.resources.beta.Assistants.delete")
 @patch("openai.resources.beta.vector_stores.VectorStores.delete")