diff --git a/lib/custom_wizard/validators/update.rb b/lib/custom_wizard/validators/update.rb
index d71bded127..631dab5548 100644
--- a/lib/custom_wizard/validators/update.rb
+++ b/lib/custom_wizard/validators/update.rb
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ def validate_field(field)
     file_types = field.file_types
     format = field.format
 
-    if required && !value
+    if required && !value.present?
       @updater.errors.add(field_id, I18n.t('wizard.field.required', label: label))
     end
 
diff --git a/plugin.rb b/plugin.rb
index 51774b6477..a3d61ac430 100644
--- a/plugin.rb
+++ b/plugin.rb
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # frozen_string_literal: true
 # name: discourse-custom-wizard
 # about: Forms for Discourse. Better onboarding, structured posting, data enrichment, automated actions and much more.
-# version: 2.0.7
+# version: 2.0.8
 # authors: Angus McLeod, Faizaan Gagan, Robert Barrow, Keegan George, Kaitlin Maddever
 # url: https://github.com/paviliondev/discourse-custom-wizard
 # contact_emails: development@pavilion.tech
diff --git a/spec/components/custom_wizard/update_validator_spec.rb b/spec/components/custom_wizard/update_validator_spec.rb
index 7caa1784d4..db5c8ff98b 100644
--- a/spec/components/custom_wizard/update_validator_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/components/custom_wizard/update_validator_spec.rb
@@ -114,6 +114,16 @@ def perform_validation(step_id, submission)
     ).to eq(I18n.t('wizard.field.required', label: 'Textarea'))
   end
 
+  it 'requires required fields with blank string values' do
+    @template[:steps][0][:fields][1][:required] = true
+    CustomWizard::Template.save(@template)
+
+    updater = perform_validation('step_1', step_1_field_2: "")
+    expect(
+      updater.errors.messages[:step_1_field_2].first
+    ).to eq(I18n.t('wizard.field.required', label: 'Textarea'))
+  end
+
   context "subscription fields" do
     before do
       enable_subscription("standard")