diff --git a/frontend/src/components/PodcastMaker/CreateModal.tsx b/frontend/src/components/PodcastMaker/CreateModal.tsx
index 44bc05fd..ae9601f4 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/PodcastMaker/CreateModal.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/PodcastMaker/CreateModal.tsx
@@ -269,7 +269,16 @@ export const CreateModal: React.FC<CreateModalProps> = ({ onCreate, open, defaul
     };
   }, [duration, speakers, knobs.bitrate, knobs.scene_length_target]);
 
-  const canSubmit = Boolean(topicInput.trim());
+  // Check if avatar is present (from any source: upload, brand avatar, or generated)
+  const hasAvatar = Boolean(
+    avatarFile ||                         // User uploaded an image
+    avatarUrl ||                         // Already processed avatar URL
+    avatarPreview ||                      // Avatar preview available
+    brandAvatarFromDb ||                  // Brand avatar from database
+    brandAvatarBlobUrl                    // Brand avatar blob URL
+  );
+
+  const canSubmit = Boolean(topicInput.trim() && hasAvatar);
 
   const submit = async () => {
     if (!canSubmit || isSubmitting) return;
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/PodcastMaker/CreateStep/CreateActions.tsx b/frontend/src/components/PodcastMaker/CreateStep/CreateActions.tsx
index 1f8cad3f..b8a3ca77 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/PodcastMaker/CreateStep/CreateActions.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/PodcastMaker/CreateStep/CreateActions.tsx
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ export const CreateActions: React.FC<CreateActionsProps> = ({
           disabled={!canSubmit || isSubmitting}
           loading={isSubmitting}
           startIcon={<AutoAwesomeIcon />}
-          tooltip={!canSubmit ? "Enter an idea or URL to continue" : "We’ll start AI analysis after this click"}
+          tooltip={!canSubmit ? "Enter an idea/URL and add a podcast avatar to continue" : "We'll start AI analysis after this click"}
         >
           {isSubmitting ? "Analyzing..." : "Analyze & Continue"}
         </PrimaryButton>