diff --git a/tagstudio/src/qt/modals/build_tag.py b/tagstudio/src/qt/modals/build_tag.py
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index dc45563c..af779819
--- a/tagstudio/src/qt/modals/build_tag.py
+++ b/tagstudio/src/qt/modals/build_tag.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ from PySide6.QtWidgets import (
 )
 from src.core.library import Library, Tag
 from src.core.library.alchemy.enums import TagColor
-from src.core.palette import ColorType, get_tag_color
+from src.core.palette import ColorType, UiColor, get_tag_color, get_ui_color
 from src.qt.modals.tag_search import TagSearchPanel
 from src.qt.widgets.panel import PanelModal, PanelWidget
 from src.qt.widgets.tag import TagWidget
@@ -51,6 +51,9 @@ class BuildTagPanel(PanelWidget):
         self.name_title.setText("Name")
         self.name_layout.addWidget(self.name_title)
         self.name_field = QLineEdit()
+        self.name_field.setFixedHeight(24)
+        self.name_field.textChanged.connect(self.on_name_changed)
+        self.name_field.setPlaceholderText("Tag Name (Required)")
         self.name_layout.addWidget(self.name_field)
 
         # Shorthand ------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -162,6 +165,8 @@ class BuildTagPanel(PanelWidget):
         # TODO - fill subtags
         self.subtags: set[int] = set()
         self.set_tag(tag or Tag(name="New Tag"))
+        if tag is None:
+            self.name_field.selectAll()
 
     def add_subtag_callback(self, tag_id: int):
         logger.info("add_subtag_callback", tag_id=tag_id)
@@ -204,6 +209,18 @@ class BuildTagPanel(PanelWidget):
 
         self.tag = tag
 
+    def on_name_changed(self):
+        is_empty = not self.name_field.text().strip()
+
+        self.name_field.setStyleSheet(
+            f"border: 1px solid {get_ui_color(ColorType.PRIMARY, UiColor.RED)}; border-radius: 2px"
+            if is_empty
+            else ""
+        )
+
+        if self.panel_save_button is not None:
+            self.panel_save_button.setDisabled(is_empty)
+
     def build_tag(self) -> Tag:
         color = self.color_field.currentData() or TagColor.DEFAULT
 
diff --git a/tagstudio/src/qt/widgets/panel.py b/tagstudio/src/qt/widgets/panel.py
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index 8c403a66..d16803c7
--- a/tagstudio/src/qt/widgets/panel.py
+++ b/tagstudio/src/qt/widgets/panel.py
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ class PanelModal(QWidget):
             self.done_button.clicked.connect(self.hide)
             if done_callback:
                 self.done_button.clicked.connect(done_callback)
+            self.widget.panel_done_button = self.done_button
             self.button_layout.addWidget(self.done_button)
 
         if save_callback or has_save:
@@ -62,6 +63,7 @@ class PanelModal(QWidget):
             self.cancel_button.clicked.connect(self.hide)
             self.cancel_button.clicked.connect(widget.reset)
             # self.cancel_button.clicked.connect(cancel_callback)
+            self.widget.panel_cancel_button = self.cancel_button
             self.button_layout.addWidget(self.cancel_button)
 
             self.save_button = QPushButton()
@@ -69,6 +71,7 @@ class PanelModal(QWidget):
             self.save_button.setAutoDefault(True)
             self.save_button.clicked.connect(self.hide)
             self.save_button.clicked.connect(self.saved.emit)
+            self.widget.panel_save_button = self.save_button
 
             if done_callback:
                 self.save_button.clicked.connect(done_callback)
@@ -93,6 +96,9 @@ class PanelWidget(QWidget):
     """Used for widgets that go in a modal panel, ex. for editing or searching."""
 
     done = Signal()
+    panel_save_button: QPushButton | None = None
+    panel_cancel_button: QPushButton | None = None
+    panel_done_button: QPushButton | None = None
 
     def __init__(self):
         super().__init__()
diff --git a/tagstudio/src/qt/widgets/tag_box.py b/tagstudio/src/qt/widgets/tag_box.py
old mode 100644
new mode 100755