diff --git a/field_collection.module b/field_collection.module
index 80e4588..6dcda2d 100644
--- a/field_collection.module
+++ b/field_collection.module
@@ -1299,11 +1299,13 @@ function field_collection_field_widget_embed_validate($element, &$form_state, $c
     foreach ($element['#field_collection_required_elements'] as &$elements) {
 
       // Copied from _form_validate().
+      // #1676206: Modified to support options widget.
       if (isset($elements['#needs_validation'])) {
         $is_empty_multiple = (!count($elements['#value']));
         $is_empty_string = (is_string($elements['#value']) && drupal_strlen(trim($elements['#value'])) == 0);
         $is_empty_value = ($elements['#value'] === 0);
-        if ($is_empty_multiple || $is_empty_string || $is_empty_value) {
+        $is_empty_option = (isset($elements['#options']['_none']) && $elements['#value'] == '_none');
+        if ($is_empty_multiple || $is_empty_string || $is_empty_value || $is_empty_option) {
           if (isset($elements['#title'])) {
             form_error($elements, t('!name field is required.', array('!name' => $elements['#title'])));
           }