diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 92a6b6e3d3a..2d7d826002a 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ IMPROVEMENTS:
 BUG FIXES:
 
  * core: Fixed a bug where blocking queries would not include the query's maximum wait time when calculating whether it was safe to retry. [[GH-8921](https://github.com/hashicorp/nomad/issues/8921)]
+ * consul: Fixed a bug to correctly validate task when using script-checks in group-level services [[GH-8952](https://github.com/hashicorp/nomad/issues/8952)]
 
 ## 0.12.5 (September 17, 2020)
 
diff --git a/client/allocrunner/taskrunner/script_check_hook.go b/client/allocrunner/taskrunner/script_check_hook.go
index f10486ac526..58d891089c9 100644
--- a/client/allocrunner/taskrunner/script_check_hook.go
+++ b/client/allocrunner/taskrunner/script_check_hook.go
@@ -204,6 +204,10 @@ func (h *scriptCheckHook) newScriptChecks() map[string]*scriptCheck {
 	// for them. The group-level service and any check restart behaviors it
 	// needs are entirely encapsulated within the group service hook which
 	// watches Consul for status changes.
+	//
+	// The script check is associated with a group task if the service.task or
+	// service.check.task matches the task name. The service.check.task takes
+	// precedence.
 	tg := h.alloc.Job.LookupTaskGroup(h.alloc.TaskGroup)
 	interpolatedGroupServices := taskenv.InterpolateServices(h.taskEnv, tg.Services)
 	for _, service := range interpolatedGroupServices {
@@ -211,7 +215,7 @@ func (h *scriptCheckHook) newScriptChecks() map[string]*scriptCheck {
 			if check.Type != structs.ServiceCheckScript {
 				continue
 			}
-			if check.TaskName != h.task.Name {
+			if !h.associated(h.task.Name, service.TaskName, check.TaskName) {
 				continue
 			}
 			groupTaskName := "group-" + tg.Name
@@ -237,6 +241,20 @@ func (h *scriptCheckHook) newScriptChecks() map[string]*scriptCheck {
 	return scriptChecks
 }
 
+// associated returns true if the script check is associated with the task. This
+// would be the case if the check.task is the same as task, or if the service.task
+// is the same as the task _and_ check.task is not configured (i.e. the check
+// inherits the task of the service).
+func (*scriptCheckHook) associated(task, serviceTask, checkTask string) bool {
+	if checkTask == task {
+		return true
+	}
+	if serviceTask == task && checkTask == "" {
+		return true
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
 // heartbeater is the subset of consul agent functionality needed by script
 // checks to heartbeat
 type heartbeater interface {
@@ -371,7 +389,7 @@ const (
 	updateTTLBackoffLimit    = 3 * time.Second
 )
 
-// updateTTL updates the state to Consul, performing an expontential backoff
+// updateTTL updates the state to Consul, performing an exponential backoff
 // in the case where the check isn't registered in Consul to avoid a race between
 // service registration and the first check.
 func (s *scriptCheck) updateTTL(ctx context.Context, msg, state string) error {
diff --git a/client/allocrunner/taskrunner/script_check_hook_test.go b/client/allocrunner/taskrunner/script_check_hook_test.go
index 9fba3a67f66..73ea2050e9b 100644
--- a/client/allocrunner/taskrunner/script_check_hook_test.go
+++ b/client/allocrunner/taskrunner/script_check_hook_test.go
@@ -286,3 +286,27 @@ func TestScript_TaskEnvInterpolation(t *testing.T) {
 	require.True(t, ok)
 	require.Equal(t, "my-job-backend-check", check.check.Name)
 }
+
+func TestScript_associated(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("neither set", func(t *testing.T) {
+		require.False(t, new(scriptCheckHook).associated("task1", "", ""))
+	})
+
+	t.Run("service set", func(t *testing.T) {
+		require.True(t, new(scriptCheckHook).associated("task1", "task1", ""))
+		require.False(t, new(scriptCheckHook).associated("task1", "task2", ""))
+	})
+
+	t.Run("check set", func(t *testing.T) {
+		require.True(t, new(scriptCheckHook).associated("task1", "", "task1"))
+		require.False(t, new(scriptCheckHook).associated("task1", "", "task2"))
+	})
+
+	t.Run("both set", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// ensure check.task takes precedence over service.task
+		require.True(t, new(scriptCheckHook).associated("task1", "task1", "task1"))
+		require.False(t, new(scriptCheckHook).associated("task1", "task1", "task2"))
+		require.True(t, new(scriptCheckHook).associated("task1", "task2", "task1"))
+		require.False(t, new(scriptCheckHook).associated("task1", "task2", "task2"))
+	})
+}
diff --git a/nomad/job_endpoint_test.go b/nomad/job_endpoint_test.go
index 7ff57ccd06c..c80fa533f27 100644
--- a/nomad/job_endpoint_test.go
+++ b/nomad/job_endpoint_test.go
@@ -478,6 +478,7 @@ func TestJobEndpoint_Register_ConnectExposeCheck(t *testing.T) {
 			Name:     "check2",
 			Type:     "script",
 			Command:  "/bin/true",
+			TaskName: "web",
 			Interval: 1 * time.Second,
 			Timeout:  1 * time.Second,
 		}, {
diff --git a/nomad/structs/structs.go b/nomad/structs/structs.go
index 340f2e36c37..1fcd57f05ce 100644
--- a/nomad/structs/structs.go
+++ b/nomad/structs/structs.go
@@ -5801,6 +5801,12 @@ func (tg *TaskGroup) Validate(j *Job) error {
 		mErr.Errors = append(mErr.Errors, outer)
 	}
 
+	// Validate group service script-checks
+	if err := tg.validateScriptChecksInGroupServices(); err != nil {
+		outer := fmt.Errorf("Task group service check validation failed: %v", err)
+		mErr.Errors = append(mErr.Errors, outer)
+	}
+
 	// Validate the scaling policy
 	if err := tg.validateScalingPolicy(j); err != nil {
 		outer := fmt.Errorf("Task group scaling policy validation failed: %v", err)
@@ -5950,6 +5956,26 @@ func (tg *TaskGroup) validateServices() error {
 	return mErr.ErrorOrNil()
 }
 
+// validateScriptChecksInGroupServices ensures group-level services with script
+// checks know what task driver to use. Either the service.task or service.check.task
+// parameter must be configured.
+func (tg *TaskGroup) validateScriptChecksInGroupServices() error {
+	var mErr multierror.Error
+	for _, service := range tg.Services {
+		if service.TaskName == "" {
+			for _, check := range service.Checks {
+				if check.Type == "script" && check.TaskName == "" {
+					mErr.Errors = append(mErr.Errors,
+						fmt.Errorf("Service [%s]->%s or Check %s must specify task parameter",
+							tg.Name, service.Name, check.Name,
+						))
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return mErr.ErrorOrNil()
+}
+
 // validateScalingPolicy ensures that the scaling policy has consistent
 // min and max, not in conflict with the task group count
 func (tg *TaskGroup) validateScalingPolicy(j *Job) error {
diff --git a/nomad/structs/structs_test.go b/nomad/structs/structs_test.go
index 9ea2c8636c0..2a0cc00c7e1 100644
--- a/nomad/structs/structs_test.go
+++ b/nomad/structs/structs_test.go
@@ -5584,3 +5584,69 @@ func TestAllocatedSharedResources_Canonicalize(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	}, a.Ports)
 }
+
+func TestTaskGroup_validateScriptChecksInGroupServices(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("service task not set", func(t *testing.T) {
+		tg := &TaskGroup{
+			Name: "group1",
+			Services: []*Service{{
+				Name:     "service1",
+				TaskName: "", // unset
+				Checks: []*ServiceCheck{{
+					Name:     "check1",
+					Type:     "script",
+					TaskName: "", // unset
+				}, {
+					Name: "check2",
+					Type: "ttl", // not script
+				}, {
+					Name:     "check3",
+					Type:     "script",
+					TaskName: "", // unset
+				}},
+			}, {
+				Name: "service2",
+				Checks: []*ServiceCheck{{
+					Type:     "script",
+					TaskName: "task1", // set
+				}},
+			}, {
+				Name:     "service3",
+				TaskName: "", // unset
+				Checks: []*ServiceCheck{{
+					Name:     "check1",
+					Type:     "script",
+					TaskName: "", // unset
+				}},
+			}},
+		}
+
+		errStr := tg.validateScriptChecksInGroupServices().Error()
+		require.Contains(t, errStr, "Service [group1]->service1 or Check check1 must specify task parameter")
+		require.Contains(t, errStr, "Service [group1]->service1 or Check check3 must specify task parameter")
+		require.Contains(t, errStr, "Service [group1]->service3 or Check check1 must specify task parameter")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("service task set", func(t *testing.T) {
+		tgOK := &TaskGroup{
+			Name: "group1",
+			Services: []*Service{{
+				Name:     "service1",
+				TaskName: "task1",
+				Checks: []*ServiceCheck{{
+					Name: "check1",
+					Type: "script",
+				}, {
+					Name: "check2",
+					Type: "ttl",
+				}, {
+					Name: "check3",
+					Type: "script",
+				}},
+			}},
+		}
+
+		mErrOK := tgOK.validateScriptChecksInGroupServices()
+		require.Nil(t, mErrOK)
+	})
+}
diff --git a/website/pages/docs/job-specification/service.mdx b/website/pages/docs/job-specification/service.mdx
index 634f3ef6c96..716e11215d8 100644
--- a/website/pages/docs/job-specification/service.mdx
+++ b/website/pages/docs/job-specification/service.mdx
@@ -246,7 +246,8 @@ scripts.
 - `task` `(string: <required>)` - Specifies the task associated with this
   check. Scripts are executed within the task's environment, and
   `check_restart` stanzas will apply to the specified task. For `checks` on group
-  level `services` only.
+  level `services` only. Inherits the [`service.task`][service_task] value if not
+  set.
 
 - `timeout` `(string: <required>)` - Specifies how long Consul will wait for a
   health check query to succeed. This is specified using a label suffix like
@@ -714,3 +715,4 @@ advertise and check directly since Nomad isn't managing any port assignments.
 [shutdowndelay]: /docs/job-specification/task#shutdown_delay
 [killsignal]: /docs/job-specification/task#kill_signal
 [killtimeout]: /docs/job-specification/task#kill_timeout
+[service_task]: /docs/job-specification/service#task-1