diff --git a/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/data/osm/IRelation.java b/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/data/osm/IRelation.java
index 6d59bd427a..9a7897d36f 100644
--- a/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/data/osm/IRelation.java
+++ b/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/data/osm/IRelation.java
@@ -2,9 +2,11 @@
 package org.openstreetmap.josm.data.osm;
 
 import java.util.Collection;
+import java.util.Collections;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.stream.Collectors;
 
+import org.openstreetmap.josm.data.validation.TestError;
 import org.openstreetmap.josm.tools.Utils;
 
 /**
@@ -138,4 +140,20 @@ public interface IRelation<M extends IRelationMember<?>> extends IPrimitive {
         return getMembers().stream().filter(rmv -> role.equals(rmv.getRole()))
                 .map(IRelationMember::getMember).collect(Collectors.toList());
     }
+
+    /**
+     * Check if this relation is useful
+     * @return {@code true} if this relation is useful
+     */
+    default boolean isUseful() {
+        return !this.isEmpty() && this.hasKey("type");
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Check if this relation is valid
+     * @return A collection of errors, if any
+     */
+    default Collection<TestError> validate() {
+        return Collections.emptyList();
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/data/osm/Relation.java b/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/data/osm/Relation.java
index 3b12c48c80..d0405bd938 100644
--- a/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/data/osm/Relation.java
+++ b/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/data/osm/Relation.java
@@ -14,6 +14,12 @@ import java.util.stream.Stream;
 
 import org.openstreetmap.josm.data.osm.visitor.OsmPrimitiveVisitor;
 import org.openstreetmap.josm.data.osm.visitor.PrimitiveVisitor;
+import org.openstreetmap.josm.data.validation.OsmValidator;
+import org.openstreetmap.josm.data.validation.TestError;
+import org.openstreetmap.josm.data.validation.tests.MultipolygonTest;
+import org.openstreetmap.josm.data.validation.tests.RelationChecker;
+import org.openstreetmap.josm.data.validation.tests.TurnrestrictionTest;
+import org.openstreetmap.josm.gui.progress.NullProgressMonitor;
 import org.openstreetmap.josm.spi.preferences.Config;
 import org.openstreetmap.josm.tools.CopyList;
 import org.openstreetmap.josm.tools.SubclassFilteredCollection;
@@ -567,4 +573,15 @@ public final class Relation extends OsmPrimitive implements IRelation<RelationMe
     public UniqueIdGenerator getIdGenerator() {
         return idGenerator;
     }
+
+    @Override
+    public Collection<TestError> validate() {
+        return Stream.of(MultipolygonTest.class, TurnrestrictionTest.class, RelationChecker.class)
+                .map(OsmValidator::getTest).filter(test -> test.enabled || test.testBeforeUpload).flatMap(test -> {
+            test.startTest(NullProgressMonitor.INSTANCE);
+            test.visit((Relation) this);
+            test.endTest();
+            return test.getErrors().stream();
+        }).collect(Collectors.toList());
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/data/validation/tests/RelationChecker.java b/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/data/validation/tests/RelationChecker.java
index 959f73d1d0..26184c7725 100644
--- a/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/data/validation/tests/RelationChecker.java
+++ b/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/data/validation/tests/RelationChecker.java
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ public class RelationChecker extends Test implements TaggingPresetListener {
                     .message(tr("Route scheme is unspecified. Add {0} ({1}=public_transport; {2}=legacy)", "public_transport:version", "2", "1"))
                     .primitives(n)
                     .build());
-        } else if (n.hasKey("type") && allroles.isEmpty()) {
+        } else if (n.hasKey("type") && allroles.isEmpty() || !n.hasKey("type")) {
             errors.add(TestError.builder(this, Severity.OTHER, RELATION_UNKNOWN)
                     .message(tr("Relation type is unknown"))
                     .primitives(n)
diff --git a/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/gui/dialogs/relation/GenericRelationEditor.java b/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/gui/dialogs/relation/GenericRelationEditor.java
index 743e05f4e0..52f17e72e7 100644
--- a/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/gui/dialogs/relation/GenericRelationEditor.java
+++ b/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/gui/dialogs/relation/GenericRelationEditor.java
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package org.openstreetmap.josm.gui.dialogs.relation;
 
 import static org.openstreetmap.josm.gui.help.HelpUtil.ht;
 import static org.openstreetmap.josm.tools.I18n.tr;
+import static org.openstreetmap.josm.tools.I18n.trn;
 
 import java.awt.BorderLayout;
 import java.awt.Component;
@@ -26,6 +27,7 @@ import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Arrays;
 import java.util.Collection;
 import java.util.Collections;
+import java.util.Comparator;
 import java.util.EnumSet;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Set;
@@ -47,6 +49,7 @@ import javax.swing.JTabbedPane;
 import javax.swing.JTable;
 import javax.swing.JToolBar;
 import javax.swing.KeyStroke;
+import javax.swing.event.TableModelListener;
 
 import org.openstreetmap.josm.actions.JosmAction;
 import org.openstreetmap.josm.command.ChangeMembersCommand;
@@ -58,6 +61,7 @@ import org.openstreetmap.josm.data.osm.OsmPrimitive;
 import org.openstreetmap.josm.data.osm.Relation;
 import org.openstreetmap.josm.data.osm.RelationMember;
 import org.openstreetmap.josm.data.osm.Tag;
+import org.openstreetmap.josm.data.validation.TestError;
 import org.openstreetmap.josm.data.validation.tests.RelationChecker;
 import org.openstreetmap.josm.gui.ConditionalOptionPaneUtil;
 import org.openstreetmap.josm.gui.MainApplication;
@@ -108,6 +112,8 @@ import org.openstreetmap.josm.gui.tagging.presets.TaggingPresets;
 import org.openstreetmap.josm.gui.util.WindowGeometry;
 import org.openstreetmap.josm.spi.preferences.Config;
 import org.openstreetmap.josm.tools.CheckParameterUtil;
+import org.openstreetmap.josm.tools.GBC;
+import org.openstreetmap.josm.tools.ImageProvider;
 import org.openstreetmap.josm.tools.InputMapUtils;
 import org.openstreetmap.josm.tools.Logging;
 import org.openstreetmap.josm.tools.Shortcut;
@@ -276,7 +282,7 @@ public class GenericRelationEditor extends RelationEditor implements CommandQueu
 
         getContentPane().add(buildToolBar(refreshAction, applyAction, selectAction, duplicateAction, deleteAction), BorderLayout.NORTH);
         getContentPane().add(tabbedPane, BorderLayout.CENTER);
-        getContentPane().add(buildOkCancelButtonPanel(okAction, cancelAction), BorderLayout.SOUTH);
+        getContentPane().add(buildOkCancelButtonPanel(okAction, deleteAction, cancelAction), BorderLayout.SOUTH);
 
         setSize(findMaxDialogSize());
 
@@ -407,12 +413,78 @@ public class GenericRelationEditor extends RelationEditor implements CommandQueu
      *
      * @return the panel with the OK and the Cancel button
      */
-    protected static JPanel buildOkCancelButtonPanel(OKAction okAction, CancelAction cancelAction) {
-        JPanel pnl = new JPanel(new FlowLayout(FlowLayout.CENTER));
-        pnl.add(new JButton(okAction));
+    protected JPanel buildOkCancelButtonPanel(OKAction okAction, DeleteCurrentRelationAction deleteAction,
+            CancelAction cancelAction) {
+        JPanel mainPanel = new JPanel(new GridBagLayout());
+        final JLabel errorLabel = new JLabel(" ");
+        final JPanel pnl = new JPanel(new FlowLayout(FlowLayout.CENTER));
+        mainPanel.add(errorLabel, GBC.eol().anchor(GridBagConstraints.CENTER));
+        mainPanel.add(pnl, GBC.eol().anchor(GridBagConstraints.CENTER));
+        final JButton okButton = new JButton(okAction);
+        final JButton deleteButton = new JButton(deleteAction);
+        okButton.setPreferredSize(deleteButton.getPreferredSize());
+        pnl.add(okButton);
+        pnl.add(deleteButton);
         pnl.add(new JButton(cancelAction));
         pnl.add(new JButton(new ContextSensitiveHelpAction(ht("/Dialog/RelationEditor"))));
-        return pnl;
+        // Keep users from saving invalid relations -- a relation MUST have at least a tag with the key "type"
+        // AND must contain at least one other OSM object.
+        final TableModelListener listener = l -> {
+            final Relation newRelation = new Relation();
+            this.tagEditorPanel.getModel().applyToPrimitive(newRelation);
+            this.memberTableModel.applyToRelation(newRelation);
+            updateOkPanel(newRelation, okButton, deleteButton);
+            updateErrorMessage(newRelation, errorLabel);
+        };
+        listener.tableChanged(null);
+        this.memberTableModel.addTableModelListener(listener);
+        this.tagEditorPanel.getModel().addTableModelListener(listener);
+        return mainPanel;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Update the OK panel area
+     * @param newRelation What the new relation would "look" like if it were to be saved now
+     * @param okButton The OK button
+     * @param deleteButton The delete button
+     */
+    private void updateOkPanel(Relation newRelation, JButton okButton, JButton deleteButton) {
+        okButton.setVisible(newRelation.isUseful() || this.getRelationSnapshot() == null);
+        deleteButton.setVisible(!newRelation.isUseful() && this.getRelationSnapshot() != null);
+        if (this.getRelationSnapshot() == null && !newRelation.isUseful()) {
+            okButton.setText(tr("Delete"));
+        } else {
+            okButton.setText(tr("OK"));
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Update the error message
+     * @param newRelation What the new relation would "look" like if it were to be saved now
+     * @param errorPane The pane (used for background colour)
+     * @param errorLabel The label to update
+     */
+    private void updateErrorMessage(Relation newRelation, JLabel errorLabel) {
+        Collection<TestError> errors = newRelation.validate();
+        if (errors.isEmpty()) {
+            // Setting " " helps keep the label in place for layout calculations
+            errorLabel.setText(" ");
+            errorLabel.setIcon(null);
+        } else {
+            final TestError error = errors.stream()
+                    .min(Comparator.comparingInt(testError -> testError.getSeverity().getLevel()))
+                    .orElse(errors.iterator().next());
+            final StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
+            if (error.getDescription() != null) {
+                sb.append(error.getDescription()).append(": ");
+            }
+            sb.append(error.getMessage());
+            if (errors.size() > 1) {
+                sb.append(trn(" with {0} more problem", " with {0} more problems", errors.size() - 1, errors.size() - 1));
+            }
+            errorLabel.setIcon(ImageProvider.get("data", error.getSeverity().getIcon()));
+            errorLabel.setText(sb.toString());
+        }
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/gui/dialogs/relation/actions/CancelAction.java b/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/gui/dialogs/relation/actions/CancelAction.java
index 6efdaeabdf..e36ae38182 100644
--- a/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/gui/dialogs/relation/actions/CancelAction.java
+++ b/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/gui/dialogs/relation/actions/CancelAction.java
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
 import javax.swing.JOptionPane;
 import javax.swing.RootPaneContainer;
 
+import org.openstreetmap.josm.data.osm.IRelation;
 import org.openstreetmap.josm.data.osm.Relation;
 import org.openstreetmap.josm.gui.HelpAwareOptionPane;
 import org.openstreetmap.josm.gui.HelpAwareOptionPane.ButtonSpec;
@@ -47,7 +48,15 @@ public class CancelAction extends SavingAction {
         if ((!getMemberTableModel().hasSameMembersAs(snapshot) || getTagModel().isDirty())
          && !(snapshot == null && getTagModel().getTags().isEmpty())) {
             //give the user a chance to save the changes
-            int ret = confirmClosingByCancel();
+            final Relation newRelation;
+            if (getEditor().getRelation() != null) {
+                newRelation = getEditor().getRelation();
+            } else {
+                newRelation = new Relation();
+                getTagModel().applyToPrimitive(newRelation);
+                getMemberTableModel().applyToRelation(newRelation);
+            }
+            int ret = confirmClosingByCancel(newRelation);
             if (ret == 0) { //Yes, save the changes
                 //copied from OKAction.run()
                 Config.getPref().put("relation.editor.generic.lastrole", Utils.strip(tfRole.getText()));
@@ -60,7 +69,7 @@ public class CancelAction extends SavingAction {
         hideEditor();
     }
 
-    protected int confirmClosingByCancel() {
+    protected int confirmClosingByCancel(final IRelation<?> newRelation) {
         ButtonSpec[] options = {
                 new ButtonSpec(
                         tr("Yes, save the changes and close"),
@@ -82,6 +91,10 @@ public class CancelAction extends SavingAction {
                 )
         };
 
+        // Keep users from saving invalid relations -- a relation MUST have at least a tag with the key "type"
+        // AND must contain at least one other OSM object.
+        options[0].setEnabled(newRelation.isUseful());
+
         return HelpAwareOptionPane.showOptionDialog(
                 MainApplication.getMainFrame(),
                 tr("<html>The relation has been changed.<br><br>Do you want to save your changes?</html>"),
diff --git a/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/gui/dialogs/relation/actions/SavingAction.java b/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/gui/dialogs/relation/actions/SavingAction.java
index 26813f23c1..35ca1dcfb7 100644
--- a/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/gui/dialogs/relation/actions/SavingAction.java
+++ b/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/gui/dialogs/relation/actions/SavingAction.java
@@ -54,8 +54,8 @@ abstract class SavingAction extends AbstractRelationEditorAction {
         tagEditorModel.applyToPrimitive(newRelation);
         getMemberTableModel().applyToRelation(newRelation);
         // If the user wanted to create a new relation, but hasn't added any members or
-        // tags, don't add an empty relation
-        if (newRelation.isEmpty() && !newRelation.hasKeys())
+        // tags (specifically the "type" tag), don't add the relation
+        if (!newRelation.isUseful())
             return;
         UndoRedoHandler.getInstance().add(new AddCommand(getLayer().getDataSet(), newRelation));

