diff --git a/bapsf_motion/gui/configure/motion_group_widget.py b/bapsf_motion/gui/configure/motion_group_widget.py
index 6d1886e7..29542e5a 100644
--- a/bapsf_motion/gui/configure/motion_group_widget.py
+++ b/bapsf_motion/gui/configure/motion_group_widget.py
@@ -586,6 +586,10 @@ def __init__(
         deployed_ips = []
         if isinstance(self._parent.rm, RunManager):
             for mg in self._parent.rm.mgs.values():
+                if dict_equal(mg_config, mg.config):
+                    # assume we are editing an existing motion group
+                    continue
+
                 deployed_mg_names.append(mg.config["name"])
 
                 for axis in mg.drive.axes:
@@ -788,6 +792,11 @@ def __init__(
 
         self._initial_mg_config = _deepcopy_dict(self._mg_config)
 
+        if "name" not in self._mg_config or self._mg_config["name"] == "":
+            self._mg_config["name"] = "A New MG"
+        self.logger.info(f"starting _mg_config: {self._mg_config}")
+        self._update_mg_name_widget()
+
         self._spawn_motion_group()
         self._refresh_drive_control()
 
@@ -1333,7 +1342,6 @@ def mg_config(self) -> Union[Dict[str, Any], "MotionGroupConfig"]:
             return self._mg_config
         elif self._mg_config is None:
             name = self.mg_name_widget.text()
-            name = "A New MG" if name == "" else name
             self._mg_config = {"name": name}
 
         return self._mg_config
@@ -1501,12 +1509,17 @@ def _validate_motion_group(self):
 
         if not isinstance(self.mg.mb, MotionBuilder):
             self.mb_btn.set_invalid()
+            self.mb_btn.setToolTip("Motion space needs to be defined.")
             self.done_btn.setEnabled(False)
         else:
             if "layer" not in self.mg.mb.config:
                 self.mb_btn.set_invalid()
+                self.mb_btn.setToolTip(
+                    "A point layer needs to be defined to generate a motion list."
+                )
             else:
                 self.mb_btn.set_valid()
+                self.mb_btn.setToolTip("")
 
         if not isinstance(self.mg.transform, BaseTransform):
             self.transform_btn.set_invalid()
@@ -1529,8 +1542,8 @@ def _validate_motion_group(self):
             self.done_btn.setEnabled(False)
 
     def _validate_motion_group_name(self) -> bool:
-        self.logger.info("Validating motion group name")
         mg_name = self.mg_name_widget.text()
+        self.logger.info(f"Validating motion group name '{mg_name}'.")
 
         # clear previous tooltips and actions
         self.mg_name_widget.setToolTip("")
@@ -1570,6 +1583,7 @@ def _validate_drive(self) -> bool:
             self.mb_dropdown.setEnabled(False)
             self.mb_btn.setEnabled(False)
             self.mb_btn.set_invalid()
+            self.mb_btn.setToolTip("Motion space needs to be defined.")
 
             self.transform_dropdown.setEnabled(False)
             self.transform_btn.setEnabled(False)
diff --git a/bapsf_motion/gui/widgets/buttons.py b/bapsf_motion/gui/widgets/buttons.py
index 47634e92..2d0dfec0 100644
--- a/bapsf_motion/gui/widgets/buttons.py
+++ b/bapsf_motion/gui/widgets/buttons.py
@@ -203,8 +203,10 @@ def __init__(self, color: str = "#2980b9", parent=None):
 
 class GearValidButton(StyleButton):
     def __init__(self, parent=None):
-        self._valid_color = "#499C54"  # rgb(14, 212, 0)
-        self._invalid_color = "#C75450"  # rgb(13, 88, 0)
+        # self._valid_color = "#499C54"  # rgb(14, 212, 0)
+        # self._invalid_color = "#C75450"  # rgb(13, 88, 0)
+        self._valid_color = "#3498DB"  # rgb(52, 152, 219) blue
+        self._invalid_color = "#FF5733"  # rgb(242, 94, 62) orange
 
         self._valid_icon = qta.icon("fa.gear", color=self._valid_color)
         self._invalid_icon = qta.icon("fa.gear", color=self._invalid_color)