diff --git a/src/test/java/org/springframework/samples/petclinic/model/ValidatorTests.java b/src/test/java/org/springframework/samples/petclinic/model/ValidatorTests.java
index 9fcd5987a..8227b7e75 100644
--- a/src/test/java/org/springframework/samples/petclinic/model/ValidatorTests.java
+++ b/src/test/java/org/springframework/samples/petclinic/model/ValidatorTests.java
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ class ValidatorTests {
 
 		LocaleContextHolder.setLocale(Locale.ENGLISH);
 		Person person = new Person();
-		person.setFirstName("");
+		person.setFirstName("notempty");
 		person.setLastName("smith");
 
 		Validator validator = createValidator();