diff --git a/RFCs/2021-04-16-76-collection-policies.md b/RFCs/2021-04-16-76-collection-policies.md
index 441e5deaf..fe41bdc98 100644
--- a/RFCs/2021-04-16-76-collection-policies.md
+++ b/RFCs/2021-04-16-76-collection-policies.md
@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@ visor:
       input:
         # this must reference a tap name, or application of the policy will fail
         tap: anycast
-        # this must match the type of the matching tap name. or application of the policy will fail
-        type: pcap
+        # this must match the input_type of the matching tap name, or application of the policy will fail
+        input_type: pcap
         config:
           bpf: "port 53"
       # stream handlers to attach to this input stream
diff --git a/src/Policies.cpp b/src/Policies.cpp
index 1258f4839..f3c09e358 100644
--- a/src/Policies.cpp
+++ b/src/Policies.cpp
@@ -57,7 +57,10 @@ std::vector<Policy *> PolicyManager::load(const YAML::Node &policy_yaml)
         }
         auto input_node = it->second["input"];
         if (!input_node["tap"] || !input_node["tap"].IsScalar()) {
-            throw PolicyException("missing or invalid tap at key 'tap'");
+            throw PolicyException("missing or invalid tap at key 'input.tap'");
+        }
+        if (!input_node["input_type"] || !input_node["input_type"].IsScalar()) {
+            throw PolicyException("missing or invalid input_type at key 'input.input_type'");
         }
 
         // Tap
@@ -99,9 +102,13 @@ std::vector<Policy *> PolicyManager::load(const YAML::Node &policy_yaml)
         try {
             spdlog::get("visor")->info("policy [{}]: instantiating Tap: {}", policy_name, tap_name);
             input_stream = tap->instantiate(policy.get(), &tap_filter);
+            // ensure tap input type matches policy input tap
+            if (input_node["input_type"].as<std::string>() != tap->input_plugin()->plugin()) {
+                throw PolicyException(fmt::format("input_type for policy specified tap '{}' doesn't match tap's defined input type: {}/{}", tap_name, input_node["input_type"].as<std::string>(), tap->input_plugin()->plugin()));
+            }
             input_stream_module_name = input_stream->name();
         } catch (std::runtime_error &e) {
-            throw PolicyException(fmt::format("unable to instantiate tap {}: {}", tap_name, e.what()));
+            throw PolicyException(fmt::format("unable to instantiate tap '{}': {}", tap_name, e.what()));
         }
         policy->set_input_stream(input_stream.get());
 
diff --git a/src/Taps.h b/src/Taps.h
index 55b9d6bde..eede1ca1f 100644
--- a/src/Taps.h
+++ b/src/Taps.h
@@ -30,6 +30,11 @@ class Tap : public AbstractModule
 
     std::unique_ptr<InputStream> instantiate(Policy *policy, const Configurable *filter_config);
 
+    const InputModulePlugin *input_plugin() const
+    {
+        return _input_plugin;
+    }
+
     void info_json(json &j) const override
     {
         j["input_type"] = _input_plugin->plugin();
diff --git a/src/tests/test_policies.cpp b/src/tests/test_policies.cpp
index 022d753ee..8af71299f 100644
--- a/src/tests/test_policies.cpp
+++ b/src/tests/test_policies.cpp
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ version: "1.0"
       input:
         # this must reference a tap name, or application of the policy will fail
         tap: anycast
+        input_type: mock
         config:
           bpf: "tcp or udp"
       # stream handlers to attach to this input stream
@@ -72,6 +73,7 @@ version: "1.0"
     default_view:
       input:
         tap: nonexist
+        input_type: mock
 )";
 
 auto policies_config_bad3 = R"(
@@ -87,6 +89,7 @@ version: "1.0"
     default_view:
       input:
         tap: anycast
+        input_type: mock
         config:
           bpf:
             badmap: "bad value"
@@ -105,6 +108,7 @@ version: "1.0"
     default_view:
       input:
         tap: anycast
+        input_type: mock
         config:
           except_on_start: true
       handlers:
@@ -112,6 +116,21 @@ version: "1.0"
           default_net:
             type: net
 )";
+auto policies_config_bad5 = R"(
+version: "1.0"
+
+visor:
+  taps:
+    anycast:
+      input_type: mock
+      config:
+        iface: eth0
+  policies:
+    default_view:
+      input:
+        tap: anycast
+        input_type: wrong_type
+)";
 
 TEST_CASE("Policies", "[policies]")
 {
@@ -193,6 +212,15 @@ TEST_CASE("Policies", "[policies]")
         REQUIRE_THROWS_WITH(registry.policy_manager()->load(config_file["visor"]["policies"]), "policy [default_view] failed to start: mock error on start");
     }
 
+    SECTION("Bad Config: mis-matched input_type on tap")
+    {
+        CoreRegistry registry(nullptr);
+        YAML::Node config_file = YAML::Load(policies_config_bad5);
+
+        REQUIRE_NOTHROW(registry.tap_manager()->load(config_file["visor"]["taps"], true));
+        REQUIRE_THROWS_WITH(registry.policy_manager()->load(config_file["visor"]["policies"]), "unable to instantiate tap 'anycast': input_type for policy specified tap 'anycast' doesn't match tap's defined input type: wrong_type/mock");
+    }
+
     SECTION("Roll Back")
     {
         CoreRegistry registry(nullptr);