diff --git a/src/components/views/dialogs/CreateGroupDialog.js b/src/components/views/dialogs/CreateGroupDialog.js
index d811dde09e2..86a2b2498cf 100644
--- a/src/components/views/dialogs/CreateGroupDialog.js
+++ b/src/components/views/dialogs/CreateGroupDialog.js
@@ -55,11 +55,15 @@ export default React.createClass({
 
     _checkGroupId: function(e) {
         let error = null;
-        if (!/^[a-z0-9=_\-\.\/]*$/.test(this.state.groupId)) {
+        if (!this.state.groupId) {
+            error = _t("Community IDs cannot not be empty.");
+        } else if (!/^[a-z0-9=_\-\.\/]*$/.test(this.state.groupId)) {
             error = _t("Community IDs may only contain characters a-z, 0-9, or '=_-./'");
         }
         this.setState({
             groupIdError: error,
+            // Reset createError to get rid of now stale error message
+            createError: null,
         });
         return error;
     },
diff --git a/src/i18n/strings/en_EN.json b/src/i18n/strings/en_EN.json
index 6543f96508e..4d31ae7875f 100644
--- a/src/i18n/strings/en_EN.json
+++ b/src/i18n/strings/en_EN.json
@@ -653,6 +653,7 @@
     "Confirm Removal": "Confirm Removal",
     "Are you sure you wish to remove (delete) this event? Note that if you delete a room name or topic change, it could undo the change.": "Are you sure you wish to remove (delete) this event? Note that if you delete a room name or topic change, it could undo the change.",
     "Community IDs may only contain characters a-z, 0-9, or '=_-./'": "Community IDs may only contain characters a-z, 0-9, or '=_-./'",
+    "Community IDs cannot not be empty.": "Community IDs cannot not be empty.",
     "Something went wrong whilst creating your community": "Something went wrong whilst creating your community",
     "Create Community": "Create Community",
     "Community Name": "Community Name",