Index: modules/cck/nodereference.module
===================================================================
--- modules/cck/nodereference.module	(revision 192)
+++ modules/cck/nodereference.module	(working copy)
@@ -122,6 +122,9 @@
             form_set_error($error_field, t('%name : This post can\'t be referenced.', array('%name' => t($field['widget']['label']))));
           }
         }
+        elseif ($field['required']) {
+          form_set_error($field['field_name'], t('%name : No node with this title was found.', array('%name' => t($field['widget']['label']))));
+        }
       }
       return;
   }
@@ -527,4 +530,4 @@
   $options = array(0 => t('<empty>'));
   $options = $options + _nodereference_potential_references($filterinfo['extra']['field']);
   return $options;
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}