diff --git a/newdle/migrations/alembic.ini b/newdle/migrations/alembic.ini
index e0be0386..32eab5af 100644
--- a/newdle/migrations/alembic.ini
+++ b/newdle/migrations/alembic.ini
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 [alembic]
 file_template = %%(year)d%%(month).2d%%(day).2d_%%(hour).2d%%(minute).2d_%%(rev)s_%%(slug)s
+script_location = newdle/migrations
 
 # Logging configuration
 [loggers]
diff --git a/newdle/migrations/versions/20250704_1127_cab5d47c1152_ensure_participant_names.py b/newdle/migrations/versions/20250704_1127_cab5d47c1152_ensure_participant_names.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2a4eb7f1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/newdle/migrations/versions/20250704_1127_cab5d47c1152_ensure_participant_names.py
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+"""Ensure participant names
+
+Revision ID: cab5d47c1152
+Revises: 30b5fe7b5949
+Create Date: 2025-07-04 11:27:08.792500
+"""
+
+from alembic import op
+
+# revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
+revision = 'cab5d47c1152'
+down_revision = '30b5fe7b5949'
+branch_labels = None
+depends_on = None
+
+
+def upgrade():
+    op.execute(
+        """
+        UPDATE participants
+        SET name = '?'
+        WHERE name= '';
+        """
+    )
+
+
+def downgrade():
+    pass
diff --git a/newdle/schemas.py b/newdle/schemas.py
index 6b9f4a0e..917ae75b 100644
--- a/newdle/schemas.py
+++ b/newdle/schemas.py
@@ -131,6 +131,11 @@ class ParticipantSchema(mm.Schema):
         )
     )
 
+    @validates('name')
+    def name_not_empty(self, value):
+        if not value:
+            raise ValidationError('This field cannot be empty.')
+
 
 class RestrictedParticipantSchema(ParticipantSchema):
     class Meta: