diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/rcsetup.py b/lib/matplotlib/rcsetup.py
index 9ac5b08d8328..c338873723c9 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/rcsetup.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/rcsetup.py
@@ -682,7 +682,7 @@ def validate_hatch(s):
         raise ValueError("Unknown hatch symbol(s): %s" % list(unknown))
     return s
 validate_hatchlist = _listify_validator(validate_hatch)
-
+validate_dashlist = _listify_validator(validate_nseq_float())
 
 _prop_validators = {
         'color': _listify_validator(validate_color_for_prop_cycle,
@@ -701,6 +701,7 @@ def validate_hatch(s):
         'alpha': validate_floatlist,
         'marker': validate_stringlist,
         'hatch': validate_hatchlist,
+        'dashes': validate_dashlist,
     }
 _prop_aliases = {
         'c': 'color',
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_cycles.py b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_cycles.py
index 7caed1f23404..420181e06cd1 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_cycles.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_cycles.py
@@ -162,6 +162,7 @@ def test_valid_input_forms():
     ax.set_prop_cycle('color', np.array([[1, 0, 0],
                                          [0, 1, 0],
                                          [0, 0, 1]]))
+    ax.set_prop_cycle('dashes', [[], [13, 2], [8, 3, 1, 3]])
     ax.set_prop_cycle(lw=[1, 2], color=['k', 'w'], ls=['-', '--'])
     ax.set_prop_cycle(lw=np.array([1, 2]),
                       color=np.array(['k', 'w']),