diff --git a/api-ref/source/parameters.yaml b/api-ref/source/parameters.yaml
index 525641f..aa19fd0 100644
--- a/api-ref/source/parameters.yaml
+++ b/api-ref/source/parameters.yaml
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ node_request_description:
    description: |
      A description for a new composed node
    in: body
-   required: tree
+   required: false
    type: string
 node_request_name:
   description: |
diff --git a/valence/controller/nodes.py b/valence/controller/nodes.py
index 31d7f5b..47c1b46 100644
--- a/valence/controller/nodes.py
+++ b/valence/controller/nodes.py
@@ -77,8 +77,12 @@ class Node(object):
                 "processor": {}
             }
 
+        if not("name" in request_body and request_body["name"].strip()):
+            raise exception.BadRequest(
+                detail="Please specify a name of the node to compose")
         name = request_body["name"]
-        description = request_body["description"]
+        # "description" is optional
+        description = request_body.get("description", "")
 
         compose_request = cls._create_compose_request(name,
                                                       description,
diff --git a/valence/tests/unit/controller/test_nodes.py b/valence/tests/unit/controller/test_nodes.py
index 62ccbae..9217741 100644
--- a/valence/tests/unit/controller/test_nodes.py
+++ b/valence/tests/unit/controller/test_nodes.py
@@ -73,6 +73,14 @@ class TestAPINodes(unittest.TestCase):
                                                     requirements)
         self.assertEqual(expected, result)
 
+    def test_compose_node_with_wrong_parameters(self):
+        """Test compose node with no name input"""
+        with self.assertRaises(exception.BadRequest) as context:
+            nodes.Node.compose_node({"no_name": "fake_value"})
+
+        self.assertTrue("Please specify a name of the node to compose"
+                        in context.exception.detail)
+
     @mock.patch("valence.db.api.Connection.create_composed_node")
     @mock.patch("valence.common.utils.generate_uuid")
     @mock.patch("valence.controller.nodes.Node.list_composed_nodes")