diff --git a/netbox/dcim/migrations/0182_alter_rack_starting_unit.py b/netbox/dcim/migrations/0182_alter_rack_starting_unit.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5b0fc6ce4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/netbox/dcim/migrations/0182_alter_rack_starting_unit.py
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# Generated by Django 4.2.5 on 2023-12-05 19:13
+
+import django.core.validators
+from django.db import migrations, models
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+    dependencies = [
+        ('dcim', '0181_rename_device_role_device_role'),
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.AlterField(
+            model_name='rack',
+            name='starting_unit',
+            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 ef0dde4da..a0614abcb 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(