diff --git a/src/puter-js/src/modules/Apps.js b/src/puter-js/src/modules/Apps.js
index ccc943ebe..212c8b93e 100644
--- a/src/puter-js/src/modules/Apps.js
+++ b/src/puter-js/src/modules/Apps.js
@@ -69,11 +69,14 @@ class Apps{
         // * allows for: puter.apps.new({name: 'example-app', indexURL: 'https://example.com'}) *
         else if (typeof args[0] === 'object' && args[0] !== null) {
             let options_raw = args[0];
+
             options = { 
                 object: { 
                     name: options_raw.name, 
                     index_url: options_raw.indexURL, 
-                    title: options_raw.title,
+                    // title is optional only if name is provided. 
+                    // If title is provided, use it. If not, use name.
+                    title: options_raw.title ?? options_raw.name,
                     description: options_raw.description,
                     icon: options_raw.icon,
                     maximize_on_start: options_raw.maximizeOnStart,
@@ -86,6 +89,27 @@ class Apps{
                 }
             };
         }
+
+        // name and indexURL are required
+        if(!options.object.name){
+            throw {
+                success: false, 
+                error: {
+                    code: 'invalid_request', 
+                    message: 'Name is required'
+                }
+            };
+        }
+        if(!options.object.index_url){
+            throw {
+                success: false, 
+                error: {
+                    code: 'invalid_request', 
+                    message: 'Index URL is required'
+                }
+            };
+        }
+
         // Call the original chat.complete method
         return await utils.make_driver_method(['object'], 'puter-apps', undefined, 'create').call(this, options);
     }