diff --git a/bbot/core/event/base.py b/bbot/core/event/base.py
index 8b493b4ae..1fb235bc2 100644
--- a/bbot/core/event/base.py
+++ b/bbot/core/event/base.py
@@ -1648,6 +1648,8 @@ def make_event(
         When working within a module's `handle_event()`, use the instance method
         `self.make_event()` instead of calling this function directly.
     """
+    if not data:
+        raise ValidationError("No data provided")
 
     # allow tags to be either a string or an array
     if not tags:
diff --git a/bbot/test/test_step_1/test_events.py b/bbot/test/test_step_1/test_events.py
index 195f08ea8..8b4773bcf 100644
--- a/bbot/test/test_step_1/test_events.py
+++ b/bbot/test/test_step_1/test_events.py
@@ -611,6 +611,10 @@ async def test_events(events, helpers):
     assert str(parent_event_3.module) == "mymodule"
     assert str(parent_event_3.module_sequence) == "mymodule->mymodule->mymodule"
 
+    # event with no data
+    with pytest.raises(ValidationError):
+        event = scan.make_event(None, "DNS_NAME", parent=scan.root_event)
+
     await scan._cleanup()