diff --git a/webapp_create_post.py b/webapp_create_post.py
index d92120982..408694c7e 100644
--- a/webapp_create_post.py
+++ b/webapp_create_post.py
@@ -360,9 +360,9 @@ def htmlNewPost(cssCache: {}, mediaInstance: bool, translate: {},
                             'itemQty', 1, 1, 999999, 1)
         extraFields += '<br>' + \
             editTextField(translate['Type of shared item. eg. hat'] + ':',
-                          'itemType', '')
+                          'itemType', '', '', True)
         catStr = translate['Category of shared item. eg. clothing']
-        extraFields += editTextField(catStr + ':', 'category', '')
+        extraFields += editTextField(catStr + ':', 'category', '', '', True)
         extraFields += '<br>'
         extraFields += \
             editNumberField(translate['Duration of listing in days'],
diff --git a/webapp_utils.py b/webapp_utils.py
index 00221fe4f..428979331 100644
--- a/webapp_utils.py
+++ b/webapp_utils.py
@@ -1155,7 +1155,7 @@ def endEditSection() -> str:
 
 
 def editTextField(label: str, name: str, value: str = "",
-                  placeholder: str = "") -> str:
+                  placeholder: str = "", required: bool = False) -> str:
     """Returns html for editing a text field
     """
     if value is None:
@@ -1163,10 +1163,13 @@ def editTextField(label: str, name: str, value: str = "",
     placeholderStr = ''
     if placeholder:
         placeholderStr = ' placeholder="' + placeholder + '"'
+    requiredStr = ''
+    if required:
+        requiredStr = ' required'
     return \
         '<label class="labels">' + label + '</label><br>\n' + \
         '      <input type="text" name="' + name + '" value="' + \
-        value + '"' + placeholderStr + '>\n'
+        value + '"' + placeholderStr + requiredStr + '>\n'
 
 
 def editNumberField(label: str, name: str, value: int = 1,