diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index be07af59595..5b7b6658c58 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ as necessary. Empty sections will not end in the release notes.
 
 ### Fixes
 
+- Add namespace validation for rename operation.
+
 ### Commits
 
 ## [0.73.0] Release (2023-10-27)
diff --git a/versioned/storage/store/src/main/java/org/projectnessie/versioned/storage/versionstore/CommitImpl.java b/versioned/storage/store/src/main/java/org/projectnessie/versioned/storage/versionstore/CommitImpl.java
index 172c28f590e..324d42b7df1 100644
--- a/versioned/storage/store/src/main/java/org/projectnessie/versioned/storage/versionstore/CommitImpl.java
+++ b/versioned/storage/store/src/main/java/org/projectnessie/versioned/storage/versionstore/CommitImpl.java
@@ -417,6 +417,8 @@ private void commitAddPut(
       // Check for a Delete-op in the same commit, representing a rename operation.
       UUID expectedContentID = UUID.fromString(putValueId);
       deletedKey = deleted.remove(expectedContentID);
+      // consider a content as new content for rename operation to consider for namespace validation
+      newContent.put(putKey, putValue);
     }
     if (storeKeyExists && putValueId == null && deleted.containsValue(storeKey)) {
       // Check for a Delete-op with same key in the same commit, representing a re-add operation.
diff --git a/versioned/tests/src/main/java/org/projectnessie/versioned/tests/AbstractNamespaceValidation.java b/versioned/tests/src/main/java/org/projectnessie/versioned/tests/AbstractNamespaceValidation.java
index ccbab482dc9..cc091933941 100644
--- a/versioned/tests/src/main/java/org/projectnessie/versioned/tests/AbstractNamespaceValidation.java
+++ b/versioned/tests/src/main/java/org/projectnessie/versioned/tests/AbstractNamespaceValidation.java
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@
 import org.junit.jupiter.params.provider.MethodSource;
 import org.projectnessie.error.ReferenceConflicts;
 import org.projectnessie.model.Conflict;
+import org.projectnessie.model.Content;
 import org.projectnessie.model.ContentKey;
 import org.projectnessie.model.Namespace;
 import org.projectnessie.versioned.BranchName;
@@ -509,4 +510,33 @@ void deleteHierarchy() throws Exception {
                             .collect(Collectors.toList())))
         .doesNotThrowAnyException();
   }
+
+  @Test
+  void renameWithNonExistingNamespace() throws Exception {
+    BranchName branch = BranchName.of("renameWithNonExistingNamespace");
+    store().create(branch, Optional.empty());
+
+    ContentKey key1 = ContentKey.of("table");
+    ContentKey key2 = ContentKey.of(Namespace.of("non_existing"), "tbl");
+
+    store()
+        .commit(
+            branch,
+            Optional.empty(),
+            fromMessage("create a table"),
+            singletonList(Put.of(key1, newOnRef("value"))));
+
+    Content table = store().getValue(branch, key1).content();
+
+    soft.assertThatThrownBy(
+            () ->
+                store()
+                    .commit(
+                        branch,
+                        Optional.empty(),
+                        fromMessage("rename table"),
+                        asList(Delete.of(key1), Put.of(key2, table))))
+        .isInstanceOf(ReferenceConflictException.class)
+        .hasMessage("Namespace 'non_existing' must exist.");
+  }
 }