diff --git a/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/AuthenticationServerField.php b/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/AuthenticationServerField.php
index f0d76e32b..7270269d9 100644
--- a/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/AuthenticationServerField.php
+++ b/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/AuthenticationServerField.php
@@ -67,6 +67,11 @@ class AuthenticationServerField extends BaseField
      */
     private $internalMultiSelect = false;
 
+    /**
+     * @var string default validation message string
+     */
+    protected $internalValidationMessage = "please specify a valid authentication server";
+
     /**
      * generate validation data (list of AuthServers)
      */
@@ -158,26 +163,19 @@ class AuthenticationServerField extends BaseField
      */
     public function getValidators()
     {
-
-        if ($this->internalValidationMessage == null) {
-            $msg = "please specify a valid authentication server";
-        } else {
-            $msg = $this->internalValidationMessage;
-        }
-
-        if (($this->internalIsRequired == true || $this->internalValue != null)) {
+        $validators = parent::getValidators();
+        if ($this->internalValue != null) {
             if ($this->internalMultiSelect) {
                 // field may contain more than one authentication server
-                return array(new CsvListValidator(array('message' => $msg,
-                    'domain'=>array_keys(self::$internalOptionList[$this->internalCacheKey]))));
+                $validators[] = new CsvListValidator(array('message' => $this->internalValidationMessage,
+                    'domain'=>array_keys(self::$internalOptionList[$this->internalCacheKey])));
             } else {
                 // single authentication server selection
-                return array(new InclusionIn(array('message' => $msg,
-                    'domain'=>array_keys(self::$internalOptionList[$this->internalCacheKey]))));
+                $validators[] = new InclusionIn(array('message' => $this->internalValidationMessage,
+                    'domain'=>array_keys(self::$internalOptionList[$this->internalCacheKey])));
             }
-        } else {
-            // empty field and not required, skip this validation.
-            return array();
         }
+
+        return $validators;
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/AutoNumberField.php b/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/AutoNumberField.php
index 886848f9e..64a03ff7c 100644
--- a/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/AutoNumberField.php
+++ b/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/AutoNumberField.php
@@ -43,6 +43,11 @@ class AutoNumberField extends BaseField
      */
     protected $internalIsContainer = false;
 
+    /**
+     * @var string default validation message string
+     */
+    protected $internalValidationMessage = "invalid integer value";
+
     /**
      * maximum value for this field
      * @var integer
@@ -122,23 +127,15 @@ class AutoNumberField extends BaseField
      */
     public function getValidators()
     {
-        if ($this->internalValidationMessage == null) {
-            $msg = "invalid integer value" ;
-        } else {
-            $msg = $this->internalValidationMessage;
-        }
+        $validators = parent::getValidators();
 
-        if (($this->internalIsRequired == true || $this->internalValue != null)) {
-            $result = array();
-            $result[] = new MinMaxValidator(array('message' => $msg,
+        if ($this->internalValue != null) {
+            $validators[] = new MinMaxValidator(array('message' => $this->internalValidationMessage,
                 "min" => $this->minimum_value,
                 "max" => $this->maximum_value
                 ));
-            $result[] = new IntegerValidator(array('message' => $msg));
-            return $result;
-        } else {
-            // empty field and not required, skip this validation.
-            return array();
+            $validators[] = new IntegerValidator(array('message' => $this->internalValidationMessage));
         }
+        return $validators;
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/BaseField.php b/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/BaseField.php
index 0ba53943f..573a03a79 100644
--- a/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/BaseField.php
+++ b/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/BaseField.php
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@
 
 namespace OPNsense\Base\FieldTypes;
 
+use Phalcon\Validation\Validator\PresenceOf;
+
 /**
  * Class BaseField
  * @package OPNsense\Base\FieldTypes
@@ -323,13 +325,30 @@ abstract class BaseField
         return $this->internalChildnodes;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * check if this field is unused and required
+     * @return bool
+     */
+    protected function isEmptyAndRequired()
+    {
+        if ($this->internalIsRequired && ($this->internalValue == "" || $this->internalValue == null)) {
+            return true;
+        } else {
+            return false;
+        }
+    }
+
     /**
      * return field validators for this field
      * @return array returns validators for this field type (empty if none)
      */
     public function getValidators()
     {
-        return array();
+        $validators = array();
+        if ($this->isEmptyAndRequired()) {
+            $validators[] = new PresenceOf(array('message' => $this->internalValidationMessage)) ;
+        }
+        return $validators;
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/BooleanField.php b/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/BooleanField.php
index 40163f4f7..3d2eb4c79 100644
--- a/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/BooleanField.php
+++ b/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/BooleanField.php
@@ -41,6 +41,10 @@ class BooleanField extends BaseField
      */
     protected $internalIsContainer = false;
 
+    /**
+     * @var string default validation message string
+     */
+    protected $internalValidationMessage = "value should be a boolean (0,1)";
 
     /**
      * retrieve field validators for this field type
@@ -51,16 +55,11 @@ class BooleanField extends BaseField
         // regexp for validating boolean values.
         $regex_mask = "/^([0,1]){1}$/";
 
-        if ($this->internalValidationMessage == null) {
-            $msg = "value should be a boolean (0,1)" ;
-        } else {
-            $msg = $this->internalValidationMessage;
-        }
-        if ($this->internalIsRequired == true || $this->internalValue != null) {
-            return array(new Regex(array('message' => $msg,'pattern'=>trim($regex_mask))));
-        } else {
-            // empty field and not required, skip this validation.
-            return array();
+        $validators = parent::getValidators();
+        if ($this->internalValue != null) {
+            $validators[] = new Regex(array('message' => $this->internalValidationMessage,
+                'pattern'=>trim($regex_mask)));
         }
+        return $validators;
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/CSVListField.php b/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/CSVListField.php
index a14350d04..77d13c25c 100644
--- a/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/CSVListField.php
+++ b/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/CSVListField.php
@@ -42,6 +42,11 @@ class CSVListField extends BaseField
      */
     protected $internalIsContainer = false;
 
+    /**
+     * @var string default validation message string
+     */
+    protected $internalValidationMessage = "list validation error";
+
     /**
      * item separator
      * @var string
@@ -126,15 +131,11 @@ class CSVListField extends BaseField
      */
     public function getValidators()
     {
-        if ($this->internalValidationMessage == null) {
-            $msg = "list validation error" ;
-        } else {
-            $msg = $this->internalValidationMessage;
-        }
-        if (($this->internalIsRequired || $this->internalValue != null) && $this->internalMask != null) {
-            return array(new Regex(array('message' => $msg,'pattern'=>trim($this->internalMask))));
-        } else {
-            return array();
+        $validators = parent::getValidators();
+        if ($this->internalValue != null && $this->internalMask != null) {
+            $validators[] = new Regex(array('message' => $this->internalValidationMessage,
+                'pattern'=>trim($this->internalMask)));
         }
+        return $validators;
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/CertificateField.php b/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/CertificateField.php
index e2ecd6b85..347d04bca 100644
--- a/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/CertificateField.php
+++ b/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/CertificateField.php
@@ -49,6 +49,11 @@ class CertificateField extends BaseField
      */
     private $certificateType = "cert";
 
+    /**
+     * @var string default validation message string
+     */
+    protected $internalValidationMessage = "option not in list";
+
     /**
      * @var array collected options
      */
@@ -110,16 +115,11 @@ class CertificateField extends BaseField
      */
     public function getValidators()
     {
-        if ($this->internalValidationMessage == null) {
-            $msg = "option not in list" ;
-        } else {
-            $msg = $this->internalValidationMessage;
-        }
-        if (($this->internalIsRequired == true || $this->internalValue != null)) {
-            return array(new InclusionIn(array('message' => $msg,'domain'=>array_keys(self::$internalOptionList))));
-        } else {
-            // empty field and not required, skip this validation.
-            return array();
+        $validators = parent::getValidators();
+        if ($this->internalValue != null) {
+            $validators[] = new InclusionIn(array('message' => $this->internalValidationMessage,
+                'domain'=>array_keys(self::$internalOptionList)));
         }
+        return $validators;
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/ConfigdActionsField.php b/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/ConfigdActionsField.php
index 847bda400..d90a40447 100644
--- a/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/ConfigdActionsField.php
+++ b/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/ConfigdActionsField.php
@@ -48,6 +48,11 @@ class ConfigdActionsField extends BaseField
      */
     private static $internalOptionList = array();
 
+    /**
+     * @var string default validation message string
+     */
+    protected $internalValidationMessage = "please specify a valid action";
+
     /**
      * @var array filters to use on the configd selection
      */
@@ -151,19 +156,11 @@ class ConfigdActionsField extends BaseField
      */
     public function getValidators()
     {
-
-        if ($this->internalValidationMessage == null) {
-            $msg = "please specify a valid action";
-        } else {
-            $msg = $this->internalValidationMessage;
-        }
-
-        if (($this->internalIsRequired == true || $this->internalValue != null)) {
-            return array(new InclusionIn(array('message' => $msg,
-                'domain'=>array_keys(self::$internalOptionList[$this->internalCacheKey]))));
-        } else {
-            // empty field and not required, skip this validation.
-            return array();
+        $validators = parent::getValidators();
+        if ($this->internalValue != null) {
+            $validators[] = new InclusionIn(array('message' => $this->internalValidationMessage,
+                'domain'=>array_keys(self::$internalOptionList[$this->internalCacheKey])));
         }
+        return $validators;
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/EmailField.php b/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/EmailField.php
index 644ed4cf1..f345e6db4 100644
--- a/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/EmailField.php
+++ b/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/EmailField.php
@@ -42,22 +42,21 @@ class EmailField extends BaseField
      */
     protected $internalIsContainer = false;
 
+    /**
+     * @var string default validation message string
+     */
+    protected $internalValidationMessage = "email address invalid";
+
     /**
      * retrieve field validators for this field type
      * @return array returns Email validator
      */
     public function getValidators()
     {
-        if ($this->internalValidationMessage == null) {
-            $msg = "email address invalid" ;
-        } else {
-            $msg = $this->internalValidationMessage;
-        }
-        if ($this->internalIsRequired == true || $this->internalValue != null) {
-            return array(new Email(array('message' => $msg)));
-        } else {
-            // empty field and not required, skip this validation.
-            return array();
+        $validators = parent::getValidators();
+        if ($this->internalValue != null) {
+            $validators[] = new Email(array('message' => $this->internalValidationMessage));
         }
+        return $validators;
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/IntegerField.php b/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/IntegerField.php
index a534dc838..bcc080c65 100644
--- a/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/IntegerField.php
+++ b/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/IntegerField.php
@@ -42,6 +42,11 @@ class IntegerField extends BaseField
      */
     protected $internalIsContainer = false;
 
+    /**
+     * @var string default validation message string
+     */
+    protected $internalValidationMessage = "invalid integer value";
+
     /**
      * maximum value for this field
      * @var integer
@@ -94,23 +99,14 @@ class IntegerField extends BaseField
      */
     public function getValidators()
     {
-        if ($this->internalValidationMessage == null) {
-            $msg = "invalid integer value" ;
-        } else {
-            $msg = $this->internalValidationMessage;
-        }
-
-        if (($this->internalIsRequired == true || $this->internalValue != null)) {
-            $result = array();
-            $result[] = new MinMaxValidator(array('message' => $msg,
+        $validators = parent::getValidators();
+        if ($this->internalValue != null) {
+            $result[] = new MinMaxValidator(array('message' => $this->internalValidationMessage,
                 "min" => $this->minimum_value,
                 "max" => $this->maximum_value
-                ));
-            $result[] = new IntegerValidator(array('message' => $msg));
-            return $result;
-        } else {
-            // empty field and not required, skip this validation.
-            return array();
+            ));
+            $result[] = new IntegerValidator(array('message' => $this->internalValidationMessage));
         }
+        return $validators;
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/InterfaceField.php b/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/InterfaceField.php
index c56ffd79b..43efcbcdf 100644
--- a/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/InterfaceField.php
+++ b/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/InterfaceField.php
@@ -45,6 +45,11 @@ class InterfaceField extends BaseField
      */
     protected $internalIsContainer = false;
 
+    /**
+     * @var string default validation message string
+     */
+    protected $internalValidationMessage = "please specify a valid interface";
+
     /**
      * @var array collected options
      */
@@ -160,30 +165,22 @@ class InterfaceField extends BaseField
 
     /**
      * retrieve field validators for this field type
-     * @return array returns Text/regex validator
+     * @return array returns validators
      */
     public function getValidators()
     {
-
-        if ($this->internalValidationMessage == null) {
-            $msg = "please specify a valid interface";
-        } else {
-            $msg = $this->internalValidationMessage;
-        }
-
-        if (($this->internalIsRequired == true || $this->internalValue != null)) {
+        $validators = parent::getValidators();
+        if ($this->internalValue != null) {
             if ($this->internalMultiSelect) {
                 // field may contain more than one interface
-                return array(new CsvListValidator(array('message' => $msg,
-                    'domain'=>array_keys(self::$internalOptionList[$this->internalCacheKey]))));
+                $validators[] = new CsvListValidator(array('message' => $this->internalValidationMessage,
+                    'domain'=>array_keys(self::$internalOptionList[$this->internalCacheKey])));
             } else {
                 // single interface selection
-                return array(new InclusionIn(array('message' => $msg,
-                    'domain'=>array_keys(self::$internalOptionList[$this->internalCacheKey]))));
+                $validators[] = new InclusionIn(array('message' => $this->internalValidationMessage,
+                    'domain'=>array_keys(self::$internalOptionList[$this->internalCacheKey])));
             }
-        } else {
-            // empty field and not required, skip this validation.
-            return array();
         }
+        return $validators;
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/ModelRelationField.php b/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/ModelRelationField.php
index eed2da80f..844bb00e8 100644
--- a/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/ModelRelationField.php
+++ b/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/ModelRelationField.php
@@ -42,6 +42,11 @@ class ModelRelationField extends BaseField
      */
     protected $internalIsContainer = false;
 
+    /**
+     * @var string default validation message string
+     */
+    protected $internalValidationMessage = "option not in list";
+
     /**
      * @var array collected options
      */
@@ -135,25 +140,17 @@ class ModelRelationField extends BaseField
      */
     public function getValidators()
     {
-        if ($this->internalValidationMessage == null) {
-            $msg = "option not in list";
-        } else {
-            $msg = $this->internalValidationMessage;
-        }
-
-        if (($this->internalIsRequired == true || $this->internalValue != null)
-        ) {
+        $validators = parent::getValidators();
+        if ($this->internalValue != null) {
             if (array_key_exists($this->internalCacheKey, self::$internalOptionList) &&
                 count(self::$internalOptionList[$this->internalCacheKey]) > 0) {
-                return array(new InclusionIn(array('message' => $msg,
+                return array(new InclusionIn(array('message' => $this->internalValidationMessage,
                     'domain' => array_keys(self::$internalOptionList[$this->internalCacheKey]))));
             } else {
-                return array(new InclusionIn(array('message' => $msg,
+                return array(new InclusionIn(array('message' => $this->internalValidationMessage,
                     'domain' => array())));
             }
-        } else {
-            // empty field and not required, skip this validation.
-            return array();
         }
+        return $validators;
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/NetworkField.php b/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/NetworkField.php
index a85d58030..6ccd2f18d 100644
--- a/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/NetworkField.php
+++ b/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/NetworkField.php
@@ -42,6 +42,11 @@ class NetworkField extends BaseField
      */
     protected $internalIsContainer = false;
 
+    /**
+     * @var string default validation message string
+     */
+    protected $internalValidationMessage = "please specify a valid network segment or address (IPv4/IPv6) ";
+
     /**
      * always lowercase / trim networks
      * @param string $value
@@ -57,23 +62,13 @@ class NetworkField extends BaseField
      */
     public function getValidators()
     {
-
-        if ($this->internalValidationMessage == null) {
-            $msg = "please specify a valid network segment or address (IPv4/IPv6) " ;
-        } else {
-            $msg = $this->internalValidationMessage;
-        }
-
-        if (($this->internalIsRequired == true || $this->internalValue != null)) {
-            if ($this->internalValue == "any") {
+        $validators = parent::getValidators();
+        if ($this->internalValue != null) {
+            if ($this->internalValue != "any") {
                 // accept any as target
-                return array();
-            } else {
-                return array(new NetworkValidator(array('message' => $msg)));
+                $validators[] = new NetworkValidator(array('message' => $this->internalValidationMessage));
             }
-        } else {
-            // empty field and not required, skip this validation.
-            return array();
         }
+        return $validators;
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/OptionField.php b/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/OptionField.php
index 78ea6b462..7e52c23a7 100644
--- a/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/OptionField.php
+++ b/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/OptionField.php
@@ -42,6 +42,11 @@ class OptionField extends BaseField
      */
     protected $internalIsContainer = false;
 
+    /**
+     * @var string default validation message string
+     */
+    protected $internalValidationMessage = "option not in list";
+
     /**
      * @var array valid options for this list
      */
@@ -92,22 +97,18 @@ class OptionField extends BaseField
         return $result;
     }
 
+
     /**
      * retrieve field validators for this field type
      * @return array returns InclusionIn validator
      */
     public function getValidators()
     {
-        if ($this->internalValidationMessage == null) {
-            $msg = "option not in list" ;
-        } else {
-            $msg = $this->internalValidationMessage;
-        }
-        if (($this->internalIsRequired == true || $this->internalValue != null)) {
-            return array(new InclusionIn(array('message' => $msg,'domain'=>array_keys($this->internalOptionList))));
-        } else {
-            // empty field and not required, skip this validation.
-            return array();
+        $validators = parent::getValidators();
+        if ($this->internalValue != null) {
+            $validators[] = new InclusionIn(array('message' => $this->internalValidationMessage,
+                'domain'=>array_keys($this->internalOptionList)));
         }
+        return $validators;
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/TextField.php b/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/TextField.php
index a6fe77ba8..bf26675da 100644
--- a/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/TextField.php
+++ b/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/TextField.php
@@ -42,6 +42,11 @@ class TextField extends BaseField
      */
     protected $internalIsContainer = false;
 
+    /**
+     * @var string default validation message string
+     */
+    protected $internalValidationMessage = "text validation error";
+
     /**
      * @var null|string validation mask (regex)
      */
@@ -62,16 +67,12 @@ class TextField extends BaseField
      */
     public function getValidators()
     {
-        $validators = array();
-        if ($this->internalValidationMessage == null) {
-            $msg = "text validation error" ;
-        } else {
-            $msg = $this->internalValidationMessage;
-        }
-        if ($this->internalIsRequired && empty($this->internalValue)) {
-            $validators[] = new PresenceOf(array('message' => $msg)) ;
-        } elseif ($this->internalValue != null && $this->internalMask != null) {
-            $validators[] = new Regex(array('message' => $msg,'pattern'=>trim($this->internalMask)));
+        $validators = parent::getValidators();
+        if ($this->internalValue != null) {
+            if ($this->internalValue != null && $this->internalMask != null) {
+                $validators[] = new Regex(array('message' => $this->internalValidationMessage,
+                    'pattern'=>trim($this->internalMask)));
+            }
         }
         return $validators;
     }
diff --git a/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/UrlField.php b/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/UrlField.php
index a39bc7f0a..86ed94646 100644
--- a/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/UrlField.php
+++ b/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/UrlField.php
@@ -42,22 +42,21 @@ class UrlField extends BaseField
      */
     protected $internalIsContainer = false;
 
+    /**
+     * @var string default validation message string
+     */
+    protected $internalValidationMessage = "invalid url";
+
     /**
      * retrieve field validators for this field type
      * @return array returns Url validator
      */
     public function getValidators()
     {
-        if ($this->internalValidationMessage == null) {
-            $msg = "invalid url" ;
-        } else {
-            $msg = $this->internalValidationMessage;
-        }
-        if ($this->internalIsRequired == true || $this->internalValue != null) {
-            return array(new UrlValidator(array('message' => $msg)));
-        } else {
-            // empty field and not required, skip this validation.
-            return array();
+        $validators = parent::getValidators();
+        if ($this->internalValue != null) {
+            $validators[] = new UrlValidator(array('message' => $this->internalValidationMessage));
         }
+        return $validators;
     }
 }