diff --git a/date_api/date_api_elements.inc b/date_api/date_api_elements.inc
index 202af8f..5f49d37 100644
--- a/date_api/date_api_elements.inc
+++ b/date_api/date_api_elements.inc
@@ -607,7 +607,8 @@ function date_parts_element($element, $date, $format) {
     $sub_element['ampm'] = array(
       '#type' => 'select',
       '#default_value' => is_object($date) ? (date_format($date, 'G') >= 12 ? 'pm' : 'am') : '',
-      '#options' => drupal_map_assoc(date_ampm()),
+      '#options' => drupal_map_assoc(date_ampm($element['#required'])),
+      '#required' => $element['#required'],
       '#weight' => 8,
       '#attributes' => array('class' => array('date-ampm')),
     );