diff --git a/static/app/components/pipeline/integrationGitLab/index.spec.tsx b/static/app/components/pipeline/integrationGitLab/index.spec.tsx
index eba31c40a2d1..229b1b9d9d54 100644
--- a/static/app/components/pipeline/integrationGitLab/index.spec.tsx
+++ b/static/app/components/pipeline/integrationGitLab/index.spec.tsx
@@ -96,6 +96,10 @@ describe('InstallationConfigStep', () => {
       'my-app-id'
     );
     await userEvent.type(screen.getByLabelText('GitLab Application Secret'), 'my-secret');
+    await userEvent.type(
+      screen.getByRole('textbox', {name: 'GitLab Group Path'}),
+      'my-group'
+    );
 
     await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', {name: 'Continue'}));
 
@@ -103,14 +107,38 @@ describe('InstallationConfigStep', () => {
       expect(advance).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
         url: undefined,
         verify_ssl: undefined,
-        group: '',
-        include_subgroups: undefined,
+        group: 'my-group',
+        include_subgroups: false,
         client_id: 'my-app-id',
         client_secret: 'my-secret',
       });
     });
   });
 
+  it('requires a group path before submitting', async () => {
+    const advance = jest.fn();
+    render(
+      <InstallationConfigStep
+        {...makeStepProps({stepData: {setupValues: []}, advance})}
+      />
+    );
+
+    await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', {name: 'Next'}));
+    await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', {name: 'Next'}));
+
+    await userEvent.type(
+      screen.getByRole('textbox', {name: 'GitLab Application ID'}),
+      'my-app-id'
+    );
+    await userEvent.type(screen.getByLabelText('GitLab Application Secret'), 'my-secret');
+    await userEvent.type(screen.getByRole('textbox', {name: 'GitLab Group Path'}), '   ');
+
+    await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', {name: 'Continue'}));
+
+    expect(await screen.findByText('Group path is required')).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(advance).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
   it('submits with group and include_subgroups when group is set', async () => {
     const advance = jest.fn();
     render(
@@ -191,6 +219,10 @@ describe('InstallationConfigStep', () => {
       'my-app-id'
     );
     await userEvent.type(screen.getByLabelText('GitLab Application Secret'), 'my-secret');
+    await userEvent.type(
+      screen.getByRole('textbox', {name: 'GitLab Group Path'}),
+      'my-group'
+    );
 
     await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole('checkbox', {name: 'Self-Hosted Instance'}));
 
@@ -232,6 +264,10 @@ describe('InstallationConfigStep', () => {
       'id'
     );
     await userEvent.type(screen.getByLabelText('GitLab Application Secret'), 'secret');
+    await userEvent.type(
+      screen.getByRole('textbox', {name: 'GitLab Group Path'}),
+      'my-group'
+    );
 
     await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole('checkbox', {name: 'Self-Hosted Instance'}));
 
diff --git a/static/app/components/pipeline/integrationGitLab/index.tsx b/static/app/components/pipeline/integrationGitLab/index.tsx
index 33010b90dab9..0c6647917ce5 100644
--- a/static/app/components/pipeline/integrationGitLab/index.tsx
+++ b/static/app/components/pipeline/integrationGitLab/index.tsx
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ const installationConfigSchema = z
   .object({
     selfHosted: z.boolean(),
     url: z.string(),
-    group: z.string(),
+    group: z.string().trim().min(1, t('Group path is required')),
     includeSubgroups: z.boolean(),
     verifySsl: z.boolean(),
     clientId: z.string().min(1, t('Application ID is required')),
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ function InstallationConfigStep({
         url: value.selfHosted ? value.url.replace(/\/+$/, '') : undefined,
         verify_ssl: value.selfHosted ? value.verifySsl : undefined,
         group: value.group,
-        include_subgroups: value.group ? value.includeSubgroups : undefined,
+        include_subgroups: value.includeSubgroups,
         client_id: value.clientId,
         client_secret: value.clientSecret,
       });
@@ -122,8 +122,9 @@ function InstallationConfigStep({
             <field.Layout.Stack
               label={t('GitLab Group Path')}
               hintText={t(
-                'Limit this integration to a specific group. Found in the URL of your group page (e.g. my-group/my-subgroup). Leave empty to integrate all accessible projects.'
+                'The group to connect, found in the URL of your group page (e.g. my-group/my-subgroup). Groups without a shared parent each need their own installation.'
               )}
+              required
             >
               <field.Input
                 value={field.state.value}