diff --git a/qcfractal/qcfractal/components/molecules/db_models.py b/qcfractal/qcfractal/components/molecules/db_models.py
index 53e176d4c..8321f6896 100644
--- a/qcfractal/qcfractal/components/molecules/db_models.py
+++ b/qcfractal/qcfractal/components/molecules/db_models.py
@@ -69,5 +69,9 @@ def model_dict(self, exclude: Optional[Iterable[str]] = None) -> Dict[str, Any]:
 
         d = BaseORM.model_dict(self, exclude)
 
+        # Molecules are validated before coming into the database
+        # Mark them as validated so the client doesn't have to re-validate them
+        d["validated"] = True
+
         # TODO - this is because the pydantic models are goofy
         return {k: v for k, v in d.items() if v is not None}