diff --git a/rowers/models.py b/rowers/models.py
index 3ca03ad9..2fa222f5 100644
--- a/rowers/models.py
+++ b/rowers/models.py
@@ -987,6 +987,14 @@ class UserForm(ModelForm):
         model = User
         fields = ['first_name','last_name','email']
 
+    def clean_first_name(self):
+        first_name = self.cleaned_data.get('first_name')
+
+        if len(first_name):
+            return first_name
+
+        raise forms.ValidationError('Please fill in your first name')
+        
     def clean_email(self):
         email = self.cleaned_data.get('email')