diff --git a/src/config/field-overrides/categoryCombo.js b/src/config/field-overrides/categoryCombo.js
index 0fb3aee1f..4b024efb7 100644
--- a/src/config/field-overrides/categoryCombo.js
+++ b/src/config/field-overrides/categoryCombo.js
@@ -3,6 +3,13 @@ import MultiSelect from '../../forms/form-fields/multi-select';
 
 export default new Map([
     ['categories', {
+        required: true,
+        validators: [{ // regular isRequired does not check for empty collection or array
+            validator(value, formState) {
+                return value && value.size > 0;
+            },
+           message: 'categories_cannot_be_empty',
+        }],
         component: (props) => {
             let queryFilter;
 
diff --git a/src/i18n/i18n_module_en.properties b/src/i18n/i18n_module_en.properties
index ade74f999..2dc211e6f 100644
--- a/src/i18n/i18n_module_en.properties
+++ b/src/i18n/i18n_module_en.properties
@@ -2389,3 +2389,4 @@ org_unit_target=Organisation unit target
 ownership=Ownership
 validation_result=Validation result
 sql=SQL
+categories_cannot_be_empty=Categories cannot be empty