--- forward.module
+++ forward.module
@@ -174,6 +174,13 @@
     '#default_value' => variable_get('forward_allow_message', TRUE),
     '#description' => t('If checked, the user will be allowed to include a personal message in the body of the email'),
   );
+  $form['forward_options']['forward_require_message'] = array(
+    '#type' => 'checkbox',
+    '#title' => t('Require personal messages'),
+    '#return_value' => 1,
+    '#default_value' => variable_get('forward_require_message', FALSE),
+    '#description' => t('If checked, the user will be forced to include a personal message in the body of the email'),
+  );
   $form['forward_options']['forward_filter_html'] = array(
     '#type' => 'checkbox',
     '#title' => t('Allow HTML in personal messages'),
@@ -520,7 +527,7 @@
     '#value' => t(variable_get('forward_'. $emailtype .'message', '!name thought you would like to see the !site web site.'), array('!name' => t('(Your Name)'), '!site' => variable_get('site_name', 'drupal'))),
     '#description' => '',
   );
-  if (variable_get('forward_allow_message', TRUE)) {
+  if (variable_get('forward_allow_message', TRUE) OR variable_get('forward_require_message', FALSE)) {
     $form['message']['message'] = array(
       '#type' => 'textarea',
       '#title' => t('Your Personal Message'),
@@ -528,7 +535,7 @@
       '#cols' => 50,
       '#rows' => 10,
       '#description' => '',
-      '#required' => TRUE,
+      '#required' => variable_get('forward_require_message', FALSE),
     );
   }
   $form['message']['path'] = array(
@@ -629,7 +636,7 @@
       form_set_error('recipients', t(variable_get('forward_flood_error', 'You can\'t send more than %number messages per hour. Please try again later.'), array('%number' => variable_get('forward_flood_control', 10))));
     }
   }
-  if ((variable_get('forward_allow_message', TRUE)) && (empty($form_state['values']['message']))) {
+  if ($form['message']['message']['#required'] == TRUE && (empty($form_state['values']['message']))) {
     form_set_error('message', t('You must enter a message.'));
   }
 }