diff --git a/awx/ui/client/src/inventories-hosts/inventories/related/sources/sources.form.js b/awx/ui/client/src/inventories-hosts/inventories/related/sources/sources.form.js
index ac82220414..a7e4b4acfd 100644
--- a/awx/ui/client/src/inventories-hosts/inventories/related/sources/sources.form.js
+++ b/awx/ui/client/src/inventories-hosts/inventories/related/sources/sources.form.js
@@ -109,6 +109,7 @@ return {
         inventory_file: {
             label: i18n._('Inventory File'),
             type:'select',
+            defaultText: 'Choose an inventory file',
             ngOptions: 'file for file in inventory_files track by file',
             ngShow: "source && source.value === 'scm'",
             ngDisabled: "!(inventory_source_obj.summary_fields.user_capabilities.edit || canAdd) || disableInventoryFileBecausePermissionDenied",
diff --git a/awx/ui/client/src/shared/Utilities.js b/awx/ui/client/src/shared/Utilities.js
index a79f46a076..507d0b7ec4 100644
--- a/awx/ui/client/src/shared/Utilities.js
+++ b/awx/ui/client/src/shared/Utilities.js
@@ -659,6 +659,9 @@ angular.module('Utilities', ['RestServices', 'Utilities'])
                         $(element).on('select2:select', (e) => {
                             scope[model] = e.params.data.text;
                             scope[selectOptions] = _.cloneDeep(original_options);
+                            if (e.params.data.id === "") {
+                                return;
+                            }
                             if (scope[selectOptions].indexOf(e.params.data.text) === -1) {
                                 scope[selectOptions].push(e.params.data.text);
                             }