diff --git a/gilda/term.py b/gilda/term.py
index b44d164..6d5f988 100644
--- a/gilda/term.py
+++ b/gilda/term.py
@@ -52,6 +52,8 @@ def __init__(self, norm_text, text, db, id, entry_name, status, source,
                  organism=None, source_db=None, source_id=None):
         if not text:
             raise ValueError('Text for Term cannot be empty')
+        if not norm_text.strip():
+            raise ValueError('Normalized text for Term cannot be empty')
         self.norm_text = norm_text
         self.text = text
         self.db = db