diff --git a/app/components/workflow-basics/index.hbs b/app/components/workflow-basics/index.hbs
index 288a56cc..11c151f2 100644
--- a/app/components/workflow-basics/index.hbs
+++ b/app/components/workflow-basics/index.hbs
@@ -153,9 +153,6 @@
   <div>
     <label>
       Journal
-      <span class="text-muted">
-        (required)
-      </span>
     </label>
     {{#if this.contactUrl}}
       <a class="btn btn-link pull-right pr-0" href="{{this.contactUrl}}">
diff --git a/app/components/workflow-basics/index.js b/app/components/workflow-basics/index.js
index b53c5d6c..303e303a 100644
--- a/app/components/workflow-basics/index.js
+++ b/app/components/workflow-basics/index.js
@@ -46,12 +46,18 @@ export default class WorkflowBasics extends Component {
 
   /**
    * Publication should be set/overwritten if there is no current publication, if the current
-   * publication has no DOI or Title, or it the current publication has no journal with a
-   * journalName
+   * publication has no DOI or Title, or it the current publication has no journal or no journal
+   * with a journalName
    */
   shouldSetPublication() {
     const publication = this.publication;
-    return !publication || !publication.doi || !publication.title || !get(publication, 'journal.journalName');
+    return (
+      !publication ||
+      !publication.doi ||
+      !publication.title ||
+      !publication.journal ||
+      !get(publication, 'journal.journalName')
+    );
   }
 
   constructor() {
diff --git a/app/controllers/submissions/new/basics.js b/app/controllers/submissions/new/basics.js
index 311dacdf..23575a7e 100644
--- a/app/controllers/submissions/new/basics.js
+++ b/app/controllers/submissions/new/basics.js
@@ -81,12 +81,8 @@ export default class SubmissionsNewBasics extends Controller {
       set(this, 'titleError', true);
       this.flashMessages.warning('The title must not be left blank');
     }
-    if (this.journalIsInvalid) {
-      set(this, 'journalError', true);
-      this.flashMessages.warning('The journal must not be left blank');
-    }
 
-    if (this.titleIsInvalid || this.journalIsInvalid) return; // end here
+    if (this.titleIsInvalid) return; // end here
 
     // non proxy submission will always have current user as submitter, so only need to validate this for proxy submission
     if (get(this, 'submission.isProxySubmission')) {