diff --git a/plugin/Defaults/ValidateReviewDefaults.php b/plugin/Defaults/ValidateReviewDefaults.php
index 0d06500fc..d080e448f 100644
--- a/plugin/Defaults/ValidateReviewDefaults.php
+++ b/plugin/Defaults/ValidateReviewDefaults.php
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 namespace GeminiLabs\SiteReviews\Defaults;
 
 use GeminiLabs\SiteReviews\Defaults\DefaultsAbstract as Defaults;
+use GeminiLabs\SiteReviews\Helper;
 
 class ValidateReviewDefaults extends Defaults
 {
@@ -17,7 +18,7 @@ protected function defaults()
 			'content' => '',
 			'email' => '',
 			'form_id' => '',
-			'ip_address' => '',
+			'ip_address' => glsr( Helper::class )->getIpAddress(), // required for Akismet and Blacklist validation
 			'name' => '',
 			'rating' => '0',
 			'terms' => '',
diff --git a/plugin/Modules/Validator/ValidateReview.php b/plugin/Modules/Validator/ValidateReview.php
index 5073fbd24..739508cf1 100644
--- a/plugin/Modules/Validator/ValidateReview.php
+++ b/plugin/Modules/Validator/ValidateReview.php
@@ -177,8 +177,8 @@ protected function validateAkismet()
 	{
 		if( !empty( $this->error ))return;
 		if( !glsr( Akismet::class )->isSpam( $this->request ))return;
-		$this->setSessionValues( 'errors', [], 'Akismet caught a spam submission:' );
-		$this->error = __( 'Your review cannot be submitted at this time. Please try again later.', 'site-reviews' );
+		$this->setSessionValues( 'errors', [], 'Akismet caught a spam submission (consider adding the IP address to the blacklist):' );
+		$this->error = __( 'This review has been flagged as possible spam and cannot be submitted.', 'site-reviews' );
 	}
 
 	/**