diff --git a/server/controllers/project.controller.js b/server/controllers/project.controller.js
index 7f118c23..2a83aa6a 100644
--- a/server/controllers/project.controller.js
+++ b/server/controllers/project.controller.js
@@ -30,14 +30,15 @@ export function updateProject(req, res) {
         $set: req.body
       },
       {
-        new: true
+        new: true,
+        runValidators: true
       }
     )
       .populate('user', 'username')
       .exec((updateProjectErr, updatedProject) => {
         if (updateProjectErr) {
           console.log(updateProjectErr);
-          res.json({ success: false });
+          res.status(400).json({ success: false });
           return;
         }
         if (req.body.files && updatedProject.files.length !== req.body.files.length) {
@@ -50,7 +51,7 @@ export function updateProject(req, res) {
           updatedProject.save((innerErr, savedProject) => {
             if (innerErr) {
               console.log(innerErr);
-              res.json({ success: false });
+              res.status(400).json({ success: false });
               return;
             }
             res.json(savedProject);
diff --git a/server/controllers/project.controller/createProject.js b/server/controllers/project.controller/createProject.js
index e4040268..74529c0d 100644
--- a/server/controllers/project.controller/createProject.js
+++ b/server/controllers/project.controller/createProject.js
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ export default function createProject(req, res) {
   projectValues = Object.assign(projectValues, req.body);
 
   function sendFailure() {
-    res.json({ success: false });
+    res.status(400).json({ success: false });
   }
 
   function populateUserData(newProject) {
diff --git a/server/models/project.js b/server/models/project.js
index bf8c992e..3581e998 100644
--- a/server/models/project.js
+++ b/server/models/project.js
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ fileSchema.set('toJSON', {
 
 const projectSchema = new Schema(
   {
-    name: { type: String, default: "Hello p5.js, it's the server" },
+    name: { type: String, default: "Hello p5.js, it's the server", maxlength: 128 },
     user: { type: Schema.Types.ObjectId, ref: 'User' },
     serveSecure: { type: Boolean, default: false },
     files: { type: [fileSchema] },