diff --git a/bonfire/bonfire.py b/bonfire/bonfire.py
index f57f4d24..1c5c3b2d 100755
--- a/bonfire/bonfire.py
+++ b/bonfire/bonfire.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 
 import bonfire.config as conf
 from bonfire.local import get_local_apps, get_appsfile_apps
-from bonfire.utils import RepoFile
+from bonfire.utils import RepoFile, SYNTAX_ERR
 from bonfire.namespaces import (
     Namespace,
     extend_namespace,
@@ -840,6 +840,8 @@ def _get_apps_config(source, target_env, ref_env, local_config_path, local_confi
     for app_name, app_config in apps_config.items():
         for component in app_config["components"]:
             # validate the config for a component
+            if not component.get("name"):
+                raise FatalError(f"{SYNTAX_ERR}, component is missing 'name'")
             try:
                 RepoFile.from_config(component)
             except FatalError as err:
diff --git a/bonfire/local.py b/bonfire/local.py
index a52787a2..446d3f5c 100644
--- a/bonfire/local.py
+++ b/bonfire/local.py
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ def get_local_apps(config):
         raise FatalError(f"{SYNTAX_ERR}, expected local config to be a dictionary")
     if "apps" in config:
         config_apps = _parse_apps_in_cfg(config)
-        log.info("local app configuration overrides found for: %s", list(config_apps.keys()))
+        log.info("local configuration found for apps: %s", list(config_apps.keys()))
 
     return config_apps
 
diff --git a/tests/test_app_configs.py b/tests/test_app_configs.py
index 070aae50..0be975f3 100644
--- a/tests/test_app_configs.py
+++ b/tests/test_app_configs.py
@@ -197,6 +197,67 @@ def test_local_no_remote_target_apps_found(monkeypatch, source, local_config_met
     assert actual == _target_apps()
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("local_config_method", ("merge", "override"))
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("source", (APP_SRE_SRC, FILE_SRC))
+def test_new_local_app_added_to_remote_apps(monkeypatch, source, local_config_method):
+    local_cfg = {
+        "apps": [
+            {
+                "name": "appC",
+                "components": [
+                    {
+                        "name": "appC_component1",
+                        "host": "gitlab",
+                        "repo": "someorg/somerepo",
+                        "path": "template.yml",
+                    }
+                ],
+            }
+        ]
+    }
+    _setup_monkeypatch(monkeypatch, source, local_cfg)
+    actual = _get_apps_config(
+        source=source,
+        target_env="test_target_env",
+        ref_env=None,
+        local_config_path="na",
+        local_config_method=local_config_method,
+    )
+    expected = _target_apps()
+    expected["appC"] = local_cfg["apps"][0]
+    assert actual == expected
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("source", (APP_SRE_SRC, FILE_SRC))
+def test_new_local_component_merged(monkeypatch, source):
+    local_cfg = {
+        "apps": [
+            {
+                "name": "appB",
+                "components": [
+                    {
+                        "name": "appB_component3",
+                        "host": "gitlab",
+                        "repo": "someorg/somerepo",
+                        "path": "template.yml",
+                    }
+                ],
+            }
+        ]
+    }
+    _setup_monkeypatch(monkeypatch, source, local_cfg)
+    actual = _get_apps_config(
+        source=source,
+        target_env="test_target_env",
+        ref_env=None,
+        local_config_path="na",
+        local_config_method="merge",
+    )
+    expected = _target_apps()
+    expected["appB"]["components"].append(local_cfg["apps"][0]["components"][0])
+    assert actual == expected
+
+
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("local_config_method", ("merge", "override"))
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("source", (APP_SRE_SRC, FILE_SRC))
 def test_empty_local_config(monkeypatch, source, local_config_method):
@@ -269,10 +330,6 @@ def test_local_config_merge(monkeypatch, source):
             {
                 "name": "appB",
                 "components": [
-                    {
-                        "name": "appBcomponent1",
-                        "ref": "a_new_ref",
-                    },
                     {
                         "name": "appBcomponent2",
                         "parameters": {
@@ -280,6 +337,12 @@ def test_local_config_merge(monkeypatch, source):
                             "NEW_PARAM2": "NEW_VALUE2",
                         },
                     },
+                    # intentionally reversing order of components...
+                    {
+                        "name": "appBcomponent1",
+                        "repo": "neworg/newrepo",
+                        "ref": "a_new_ref",
+                    },
                 ],
             },
         ]
@@ -300,6 +363,7 @@ def test_local_config_merge(monkeypatch, source):
         for component in app_config["components"]:
             if component["name"] == "appBcomponent1":
                 component["ref"] = "a_new_ref"
+                component["repo"] = "neworg/newrepo"
             if component["name"] == "appBcomponent2":
                 component["parameters"] = {
                     "EXISTING_PARAM1": "EXISTING_VALUE1",