diff --git a/app.js b/app.js
index 13bddf8..3d582fc 100644
--- a/app.js
+++ b/app.js
@@ -82,7 +82,13 @@ function getMatchesv6(ipAddress) {
 
 async function handleLookup() {
   const input = document.getElementById("lookup");
-  const text = input.value;
+  if (!input.value && input.placeholder) {
+    input.value = input.placeholder;
+  }
+  const text = input.value?.trim();
+  if (!text) {
+    throw new Error('A value to lookup must be provided');
+  }
   if (text && new URL(window.location).searchParams?.get("lookup") !== text) {
     const newUrl = new URL(window.location);
     newUrl.search = new URLSearchParams({ lookup: text }).toString()
diff --git a/index.html b/index.html
index 3373e00..7886055 100644
--- a/index.html
+++ b/index.html
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ <h1>Information about AWS IP addresses</h1>
       <form id="form" action="javascript:void(0);">
         <label for="lookup">IP Address or Hostname</label>
         <br>
-        <input type="text" id="lookup" name="lookup" required>
+        <input type="text" id="lookup" name="lookup">
         <input type="submit" value="Lookup">
       </form>