diff --git a/modules/date/date_elements.inc b/modules/date/date_elements.inc
index 6908d96..323c7bd 100644
--- a/modules/date/date_elements.inc
+++ b/modules/date/date_elements.inc
@@ -517,6 +517,8 @@ function date_combo_validate($element, &$form_state) {
     $item = date_element_empty($element, $form_state);
     if (!$element['#required']) {
       return;
+    } else {
+      form_error($element, t('!name field is required.', array('!name' => $element['#title'])));
     }
   }
   // Don't look for further errors if errors are already flagged