diff --git a/lib/xeroizer/models/line_item.rb b/lib/xeroizer/models/line_item.rb
index de6f39f6b..01f0a30bb 100644
--- a/lib/xeroizer/models/line_item.rb
+++ b/lib/xeroizer/models/line_item.rb
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ class LineItem < Base
 
       has_many  :tracking, :model_name => 'TrackingCategoryChild'
 
+      validates_presence_of :description
+
       def initialize(parent)
         super(parent)
         @line_amount_set = false
diff --git a/test/unit/models/line_item_test.rb b/test/unit/models/line_item_test.rb
index 602c54695..eab4e469c 100644
--- a/test/unit/models/line_item_test.rb
+++ b/test/unit/models/line_item_test.rb
@@ -56,4 +56,21 @@ def setup
     assert_equal 50, line_item.line_amount,
                  "expected line amount to be calculated from coerced values"
   end
+
+  context "line_item validations" do
+
+    it "is an invalid line_item if there is no description" do
+      line_item = LineItem.new(nil)
+
+      assert_equal(false, line_item.valid?)
+    end
+
+    it "is a valid line_item with minimal attributes" do
+      line_item = LineItem.new(nil)
+      line_item.description = "Test Description"
+
+      assert_equal(true, line_item.valid?)
+    end
+
+  end
 end