diff --git a/vspace/src/main/java/edu/asu/diging/vspace/web/staff/ExhibitionConfigurationController.java b/vspace/src/main/java/edu/asu/diging/vspace/web/staff/ExhibitionConfigurationController.java
index 4e6a1c6db..bb7ef26d1 100644
--- a/vspace/src/main/java/edu/asu/diging/vspace/web/staff/ExhibitionConfigurationController.java
+++ b/vspace/src/main/java/edu/asu/diging/vspace/web/staff/ExhibitionConfigurationController.java
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ public String showExhibitions(Model model) {
     @RequestMapping(value = "/staff/exhibit/config", method = RequestMethod.POST)
     public RedirectView createOrUpdateExhibition(HttpServletRequest request,
             @RequestParam(required = false, name = "exhibitionParam") String exhibitID,
-            @RequestParam("spaceParam") String spaceID,
+            @RequestParam(required = false, name = "spaceParam") String spaceID,
             @Valid @ModelAttribute("exhibitionConfigurationForm") ExhibitionConfigurationForm exhibitionConfigForm,
             BindingResult result,           
             RedirectAttributes attributes) throws IOException {
@@ -107,6 +107,13 @@ public RedirectView createOrUpdateExhibition(HttpServletRequest request,
             attributes.addAttribute("message", result.getFieldError().getDefaultMessage());
             return new RedirectView(request.getContextPath() + "/staff/exhibit/config");
         }
+        
+        if (spaceID == null || spaceID.trim().isEmpty()) {
+            attributes.addAttribute("showAlert", true);
+            attributes.addAttribute("alertType", "danger");
+            attributes.addAttribute("message", "Please select a start space for the exhibition.");
+            return new RedirectView(request.getContextPath() + "/staff/exhibit/config");
+        }
         ExhibitionModes exhibitMode = exhibitionConfigForm.getExhibitionMode();
         List<String> languages = exhibitionConfigForm.getExhibitLanguage();
         String defaultLanguage = exhibitionConfigForm.getDefaultExhibitLanguage();
diff --git a/vspace/src/main/webapp/WEB-INF/views/staff/exhibit/config.html b/vspace/src/main/webapp/WEB-INF/views/staff/exhibit/config.html
index acf032389..de0babd0e 100644
--- a/vspace/src/main/webapp/WEB-INF/views/staff/exhibit/config.html
+++ b/vspace/src/main/webapp/WEB-INF/views/staff/exhibit/config.html
@@ -119,7 +119,8 @@ <h2>Exhibition Configuration</h2>
 		        <input type="hidden"  th:name="${_csrf.parameterName}" th:value="${_csrf.token}"/>
 		        <input type="hidden" th:value="${exhibition?.id}" name="exhibitionParam" id="exhibitionParam"/>
 		        <label for="space">Select the start space of the exhibition:</label>
-		        <select class="form-control" name="spaceParam">
+		        <select class="form-control" name="spaceParam" required>
+		             <option value="">-- Please select a start space --</option>
 		             <option th:id="${space.id}" th:each="space: ${spacesList}" th:value="${space.id}"
 		             th:selected="${#strings.equals(space.id,exhibition?.startSpace?.id)}">
 		             	[[${space.name}]]