diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/Volunteers.svelte b/frontend/src/pages/Volunteers.svelte
index 06f6aac..e90bf80 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/Volunteers.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/Volunteers.svelte
@@ -190,8 +190,8 @@
             <input id="v-ticket-name" bind:value={newTicketName} placeholder="Legal/ticketed name" />
           </div>
           <div class="form-group">
-            <label for="v-email">Email</label>
-            <input id="v-email" type="email" bind:value={newEmail} placeholder="email@example.com" />
+            <label for="v-email">Email *</label>
+            <input id="v-email" type="email" bind:value={newEmail} required placeholder="email@example.com" />
           </div>
           <div class="form-group">
             <label for="v-dept">Department</label>
diff --git a/handle_volunteers.go b/handle_volunteers.go
index 6832995..b7e385a 100644
--- a/handle_volunteers.go
+++ b/handle_volunteers.go
@@ -46,6 +46,10 @@ func (app *App) handleCreateVolunteer(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		writeError(w, "name is required", http.StatusBadRequest)
 		return
 	}
+	if v.Email == "" {
+		writeError(w, "email is required", http.StatusBadRequest)
+		return
+	}
 	claims := claimsFromContext(r)
 	if claims.Role == "colead" {
 		if v.DepartmentID == nil || !inSlice(*v.DepartmentID, claims.DeptIDs) {