diff --git a/files/templates/submit_emojis.html b/files/templates/submit_emojis.html
index 6c35906a4..4c27ef3c2 100644
--- a/files/templates/submit_emojis.html
+++ b/files/templates/submit_emojis.html
@@ -24,7 +24,8 @@
 
 							<label class="mt-3" for="kind">Kind</label>
 							<div class="input-group mb2">
-								<select autocomplete="off" id='kind' class="form-control" name="kind">
+								<select autocomplete="off" id='kind' class="form-control" name="kind" required>
+									<option hidden disabled selected value>-- select an option --</option>
 									{% for entry in kinds %}
 										<option value="{{entry}}">
 											{{entry}}
@@ -70,7 +71,7 @@
 
 								<div><label class="mt-3" for="{{emoji.name}}-kind">Kind</label></div>
 								<div class="input-group mb2">
-									<select autocomplete="off" id='{{emoji.name}}-kind' class="form-control" name="kind">
+									<select autocomplete="off" id='{{emoji.name}}-kind' class="form-control" name="kind" required>
 										{% for entry in kinds %}
 											<option value="{{entry}}" {% if emoji.kind==entry %}selected{% endif %}>
 												{{entry}}