diff --git a/css/main.css b/css/main.css
index 83942f1..e7fb1d2 100644
--- a/css/main.css
+++ b/css/main.css
@@ -13,6 +13,12 @@ body {
 div.main {
 }
 
+div.error {
+	border: 1px solid #ef5350;
+	background-color: #ff867c;
+	padding: 5px;
+}
+
 /* stuff for input's like the login and post forms */
 form.input-form {
 }
diff --git a/register.php b/register.php
index 0e7a270..d6e2793 100644
--- a/register.php
+++ b/register.php
@@ -7,13 +7,29 @@
 #                           #
 # - # - # - # - # - # - # - #
 
+//TODO: email / invite registration
+
 // if a registration was submitted
 if($_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] == 'POST') {
 	
+	# function to handle failed registrations	
+	function failed_register($msg) {
+		header("Location: /register.php?login_failed=$msg");
+		exit();
+	}
+
+	// Assign the form contents to variables
+	$username = $_POST['user'] ?? '';
+	$password = $_POST['pass'] ?? '';
+
+	// Check for empty or blank fields	
+	if ($username == '') failed_register("invalid username");
+	if ($password == '') failed_register("invalid password");
+
 }
 
 $path = $_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT'];
-include($path . '/core/header.php');
+require($path . '/core/header.php');
 ?>
 <div style="
 	margin: auto;
@@ -21,7 +37,7 @@ include($path . '/core/header.php');
 	padding-top: 100px;
 ">
 	<h1>register</h1>
-	<form action="login.php" class="input-form">
+	<form action="/register.php" method="post" class="input-form">
 		<table>
 			<tr>
 				<td><b>username:</b></td>
@@ -41,6 +57,7 @@ include($path . '/core/header.php');
 					<input name="confirm_pass" type="password">
 				</td>
 			</tr>
+<!--
 			<tr>
 				<td><b>email:</b></td>
 				<td>
@@ -53,11 +70,21 @@ include($path . '/core/header.php');
 					<input name="confirm_email" type="email">
 				</td>
 			</tr>
+-->
 		</table>
+		<br>
+		<button type="Submit">submit</button>
+<?php
+if(isset($_GET['login_failed'])) {
+	echo "<br><br>";
+	echo "<div class=\"error\">";
+	echo $_GET['login_failed'];
+	echo "</div>";
+}
+?>
 	</form>
 </div>
-
 <?php
-include($path . '/core/footer.php');
+require($path . '/core/footer.php');
 # the end...
 ?>