diff --git a/netbox/dcim/migrations/0174_rack_starting_unit.py b/netbox/dcim/migrations/0174_rack_starting_unit.py
index e32738660a3..2d2b5f82646 100644
--- a/netbox/dcim/migrations/0174_rack_starting_unit.py
+++ b/netbox/dcim/migrations/0174_rack_starting_unit.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Generated by Django 4.1.9 on 2023-05-31 15:47
 
+import django.core.validators
 from django.db import migrations, models
 
 
@@ -12,6 +13,6 @@ class Migration(migrations.Migration):
         migrations.AddField(
             model_name='rack',
             name='starting_unit',
-            field=models.PositiveSmallIntegerField(default=1),
+            field=models.PositiveSmallIntegerField(default=1, validators=[django.core.validators.MinValueValidator(1)]),
         ),
     ]
diff --git a/netbox/dcim/models/racks.py b/netbox/dcim/models/racks.py
index ef0dde4dac9..a0614abcb0d 100644
--- a/netbox/dcim/models/racks.py
+++ b/netbox/dcim/models/racks.py
@@ -141,6 +141,7 @@ class Rack(ContactsMixin, ImageAttachmentsMixin, PrimaryModel, WeightMixin):
     starting_unit = models.PositiveSmallIntegerField(
         default=RACK_STARTING_UNIT_DEFAULT,
         verbose_name=_('starting unit'),
+        validators=[MinValueValidator(1),],
         help_text=_('Starting unit for rack')
     )
     desc_units = models.BooleanField(