diff --git a/conditional_fields.module b/conditional_fields.module
index 8e18212..4b720df 100644
--- a/conditional_fields.module
+++ b/conditional_fields.module
@@ -1295,7 +1295,7 @@ function conditional_fields_set_required_field_recurse(&$item) {
  */
 function conditional_fields_custom_required_field(&$field) {
   if ($field['#required']) {
-    unset($field['#required']);
+    $field['#required'] = FALSE;
     $field['#conditional_fields_required'] = TRUE;
   }
   foreach (element_children($field) as $child) {