diff --git a/modules/validations/missing_tag.js b/modules/validations/missing_tag.js
index 372e0d652..8f0a8c13e 100644
--- a/modules/validations/missing_tag.js
+++ b/modules/validations/missing_tag.js
@@ -33,9 +33,9 @@ export function validationMissingTag() {
             var entityLabel = utilDisplayLabel(entity, context);
             issues.push(new validationIssue({
                 type: type,
-                // use error if created or modified, else warning
-                severity: entity.v ? 'error' : 'warning',
-                message: t('issues.missing_tag.message', {feature: entityLabel}),
+                // error if created or modified, else warning
+                severity: !entity.version || entity.v  ? 'error' : 'warning',
+                message: t('issues.missing_tag.message', { feature: entityLabel }),
                 tooltip: t('issues.missing_tag.tip'),
                 entities: [entity],
                 fixes: [