diff --git a/openlibrary/plugins/upstream/addtag.py b/openlibrary/plugins/upstream/addtag.py
index ddc3594e96f..f3c3e9e8aee 100644
--- a/openlibrary/plugins/upstream/addtag.py
+++ b/openlibrary/plugins/upstream/addtag.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ def get_subject_tag_types():
 
 
 def validate_tag(tag):
-    return tag.get('name', '') and tag.get('tag_type', '') in get_tag_types() and tag.get('body')
+    return tag.get('name', '') and tag.get('tag_description', '') and tag.get('tag_type', '') in get_tag_types() and tag.get('body')
 
 
 def validate_subject_tag(tag):
diff --git a/openlibrary/templates/type/tag/tag_form_inputs.html b/openlibrary/templates/type/tag/tag_form_inputs.html
index de7c5dec36e..34cea1b1f62 100644
--- a/openlibrary/templates/type/tag/tag_form_inputs.html
+++ b/openlibrary/templates/type/tag/tag_form_inputs.html
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
             <label for="tag_description">$_("Tag Description")</label>
         </div>
         <div class="input">
-            <textarea id="tag_description" name="tag_description" rows="5" cols="80">$tag_description</textarea>
+            <textarea id="tag_description" name="tag_description" rows="5" cols="80" required>$tag_description</textarea>
         </div>
     </div>
 </fieldset>