diff --git a/build.sbt b/build.sbt
index f847e78..b8e9436 100644
--- a/build.sbt
+++ b/build.sbt
@@ -34,7 +34,8 @@ lazy val frontend = project
     libraryDependencies += "org.scala-js" %%% "scalajs-dom" % "2.4.0",
     libraryDependencies += "com.raquo" %%% "laminar" % "15.0.1",
     libraryDependencies += "io.laminext" %%% "websocket-circe" % "0.15.0",
-    libraryDependencies += "io.laminext" %%% "fetch-circe" % "0.15.0"
+    libraryDependencies += "io.laminext" %%% "fetch-circe" % "0.15.0",
+    libraryDependencies += "io.laminext" %%% "validation-cats" % "0.15.0"
   )
   .dependsOn(common.js)
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/main/scala/industries/sunshine/planningpoker/JoinRoomComponent.scala b/frontend/src/main/scala/industries/sunshine/planningpoker/JoinRoomComponent.scala
index b03bbf8..eaf778e 100644
--- a/frontend/src/main/scala/industries/sunshine/planningpoker/JoinRoomComponent.scala
+++ b/frontend/src/main/scala/industries/sunshine/planningpoker/JoinRoomComponent.scala
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@ import com.raquo.laminar.api.L.{*, given}
 import io.laminext.fetch.Fetch
 import io.laminext.fetch.circe._
 
+import io.laminext.syntax.core._
+import io.laminext.syntax.validation._
+
 import scala.util.Failure
 import scala.util.Success
 
@@ -29,7 +32,8 @@ object JoinRoomComponent {
       value <-- data.signal,
       onInput.mapToValue --> data.writer
     )
-  )
+  ).validated(V.nonBlank("name must not be blank"))
+
   def passInput(data: Var[String], placeholderText: String) = input(
     tpe := "password",
     className := "border-2 m-1 rounded",
@@ -104,16 +108,36 @@ object JoinRoomComponent {
         } --> responseReceived
     )
 
+    val roomNameInput = nameInput(roomNameVar, "Enter room name:")
+    val roomPassInput = passInput(roomPassVar, "room password")
+    val nickNameInput = nameInput(nicknameVar, "Enter your nickname:")
+    val nickPassInput = passInput(nicknamePass, "nickname pass")
     div(
       className := "bg-green-50 w-full h-full flex justify-center",
       div(
         className := "w-60 flex flex-col justify-center",
         "Logging in:",
-        nameInput(roomNameVar, "Enter room name:"),
-        passInput(roomPassVar, "room password"),
-        label("Alert: no https, please don't use good passwords"),
-        nameInput(nicknameVar, "Enter your nickname:"),
-        passInput(nicknamePass, "nickname pass:"),
+        roomNameInput,
+        div(
+          child.maybe <-- roomNameInput.validationError.optionMap(errors =>
+            span(
+              cls := "text-red-700 text-sm",
+              errors.map(error => div(error))
+            )
+          )
+        ),
+        roomPassInput,
+        label("Alert: no https, please use throwaway passwords"),
+        nickNameInput,
+        div(
+          child.maybe <-- nickNameInput.validationError.optionMap(errors =>
+            span(
+              cls := "text-red-700 text-sm",
+              errors.map(error => div(error))
+            )
+          )
+        ),
+        nickPassInput,
         submitButton,
         newRoomButton,
         div(