diff --git a/app/page.tsx b/app/page.tsx
index 7b41a0b..4069968 100644
--- a/app/page.tsx
+++ b/app/page.tsx
@@ -15,6 +15,11 @@ export default function Home() {
   const [submitted, setSubmitted] = useState(false);
   async function handleSubmit(e: any) {
     e.preventDefault(); // prevent the default form submission behavior
+    if (!email) {
+      setAlertType("error");
+      setAlertMessage("Please enter an email.");
+      return;
+    } // if the email field is empty, do nothing
     const res = await fetch("/api/waitlist", {
       method: "POST", // specify the HTTP method
       headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" }, // specify the content type