diff --git a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/table/index.ts b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/table/index.ts
index a02ecc665e..ee6947cec8 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/table/index.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/table/index.ts
@@ -34,7 +34,11 @@ import sdk from "../../../sdk"
 import { jsonFromCsvString } from "../../../utilities/csv"
 import { builderSocket } from "../../../websockets"
 import { cloneDeep, isEqual } from "lodash"
-import { helpers } from "@budibase/shared-core"
+import {
+  helpers,
+  PROTECTED_EXTERNAL_COLUMNS,
+  PROTECTED_INTERNAL_COLUMNS,
+} from "@budibase/shared-core"
 
 function pickApi({ tableId, table }: { tableId?: string; table?: Table }) {
   if (table && isExternalTable(table)) {
@@ -167,7 +171,7 @@ export async function validateNewTableImport(
 
   if (isRows(rows) && isSchema(schema)) {
     ctx.status = 200
-    ctx.body = validateSchema(rows, schema)
+    ctx.body = validateSchema(rows, schema, PROTECTED_INTERNAL_COLUMNS)
   } else {
     ctx.status = 422
   }
@@ -180,6 +184,7 @@ export async function validateExistingTableImport(
 
   let schema = null
 
+  let protectedColumnNames
   if (tableId) {
     const table = await sdk.tables.getTable(tableId)
     schema = table.schema
@@ -189,6 +194,9 @@ export async function validateExistingTableImport(
         name: "_id",
         type: FieldType.STRING,
       }
+      protectedColumnNames = PROTECTED_INTERNAL_COLUMNS.filter(x => x !== "_id")
+    } else {
+      protectedColumnNames = PROTECTED_EXTERNAL_COLUMNS
     }
   } else {
     ctx.status = 422
@@ -197,7 +205,7 @@ export async function validateExistingTableImport(
 
   if (tableId && isRows(rows) && isSchema(schema)) {
     ctx.status = 200
-    ctx.body = validateSchema(rows, schema)
+    ctx.body = validateSchema(rows, schema, protectedColumnNames)
   } else {
     ctx.status = 422
   }
diff --git a/packages/server/src/utilities/schema.ts b/packages/server/src/utilities/schema.ts
index 4bd4e8f583..c7a4427dd7 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/utilities/schema.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/utilities/schema.ts
@@ -41,7 +41,11 @@ export function isRows(rows: any): rows is Rows {
   return Array.isArray(rows) && rows.every(row => typeof row === "object")
 }
 
-export function validate(rows: Rows, schema: TableSchema): ValidationResults {
+export function validate(
+  rows: Rows,
+  schema: TableSchema,
+  protectedColumnNames: readonly string[]
+): ValidationResults {
   const results: ValidationResults = {
     schemaValidation: {},
     allValid: false,
@@ -49,6 +53,8 @@ export function validate(rows: Rows, schema: TableSchema): ValidationResults {
     errors: {},
   }
 
+  protectedColumnNames = protectedColumnNames.map(x => x.toLowerCase())
+
   rows.forEach(row => {
     Object.entries(row).forEach(([columnName, columnData]) => {
       const {
@@ -63,6 +69,12 @@ export function validate(rows: Rows, schema: TableSchema): ValidationResults {
         return
       }
 
+      if (protectedColumnNames.includes(columnName.toLowerCase())) {
+        results.schemaValidation[columnName] = false
+        results.errors[columnName] = `${columnName} is a protected name`
+        return
+      }
+
       // If the columnType is not a string, then it's not present in the schema, and should be added to the invalid columns array
       if (typeof columnType !== "string") {
         results.invalidColumns.push(columnName)