diff --git a/app/controllers/requests_controller.rb b/app/controllers/requests_controller.rb
index b58258076..aeea38e05 100644
--- a/app/controllers/requests_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/requests_controller.rb
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ class RequestsController < ApplicationController
   
   def create
     url = diaspora_url(params[:request][:destination_url])
-    @request = current_user.send_friend_request_to(url) unless url.include?('@')
+    @request = current_user.send_friend_request_to(url) unless url.include?('@')|| url == ''
     if @request
       flash[:notice] = "a friend request was sent to #{@request.destination_url}"
       redirect_to requests_url
diff --git a/app/views/requests/_form.haml b/app/views/requests/_form.haml
index 390062d8d..319265e29 100644
--- a/app/views/requests/_form.haml
+++ b/app/views/requests/_form.haml
@@ -5,6 +5,5 @@
     = f.label :destination_url
     = f.text_field :destination_url
 
-
   %p
     = f.submit
diff --git a/app/views/requests/_new_request.haml b/app/views/requests/_new_request.haml
index 319265e29..d44bdcea0 100644
--- a/app/views/requests/_new_request.haml
+++ b/app/views/requests/_new_request.haml
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
   = f.error_messages
 
   %p
+    enter a diaspora url, diaspora username, or random email address:  
     = f.label :destination_url
     = f.text_field :destination_url
-
   %p
     = f.submit