diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/fleet/public/applications/fleet/sections/agents/components/agent_upgrade_modal/index.test.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/fleet/public/applications/fleet/sections/agents/components/agent_upgrade_modal/index.test.tsx
index 3073420f4dc58..919a500477f0c 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/fleet/public/applications/fleet/sections/agents/components/agent_upgrade_modal/index.test.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/fleet/public/applications/fleet/sections/agents/components/agent_upgrade_modal/index.test.tsx
@@ -109,6 +109,38 @@ describe('AgentUpgradeAgentModal', () => {
       });
     });
 
+    it('should make combo invalid on clearing version', async () => {
+      const { utils } = renderAgentUpgradeAgentModal({
+        agents: [{ id: 'agent1', local_metadata: { host: 'abc' } }] as any,
+        agentCount: 1,
+      });
+
+      await waitFor(() => {
+        fireEvent.click(utils.getByTestId('comboBoxClearButton'));
+        const container = utils.getByTestId('agentUpgradeModal.VersionCombobox');
+        const input = within(container).getByRole<HTMLInputElement>('combobox');
+        expect(input?.value).toEqual('');
+        expect(utils.getByText('Version is required')).toBeInTheDocument();
+        expect(utils.getByTestId('confirmModalConfirmButton')).toBeDisabled();
+      });
+    });
+
+    it('should make combo invalid on clearing version - bulk action', async () => {
+      const { utils } = renderAgentUpgradeAgentModal({
+        agents: '*',
+        agentCount: 1,
+      });
+
+      await waitFor(() => {
+        fireEvent.click(utils.getByTestId('comboBoxClearButton'));
+        const container = utils.getByTestId('agentUpgradeModal.VersionCombobox');
+        const input = within(container).getByRole<HTMLInputElement>('combobox');
+        expect(input?.value).toEqual('');
+        expect(utils.getByText('Version is required')).toBeInTheDocument();
+        expect(utils.getByTestId('confirmModalConfirmButton')).toBeDisabled();
+      });
+    });
+
     it('should display the custom version text input if no versions', async () => {
       const { utils } = renderAgentUpgradeAgentModal({
         agents: [
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/fleet/public/applications/fleet/sections/agents/components/agent_upgrade_modal/index.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/fleet/public/applications/fleet/sections/agents/components/agent_upgrade_modal/index.tsx
index 57a23cbe412f8..e333efb152ea3 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/fleet/public/applications/fleet/sections/agents/components/agent_upgrade_modal/index.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/fleet/public/applications/fleet/sections/agents/components/agent_upgrade_modal/index.tsx
@@ -101,6 +101,8 @@ export const AgentUpgradeAgentModal: React.FunctionComponent<AgentUpgradeAgentMo
   const [updatingQuery, setUpdatingQuery] = useState<Agent[] | string>('');
 
   const QUERY_STUCK_UPDATING = `status:updating AND upgrade_started_at:* AND NOT upgraded_at:* AND upgrade_started_at < now-${AGENT_UPDATING_TIMEOUT_HOURS}h`;
+  const EMPTY_VALUE = useMemo(() => ({ label: '', value: '' }), []);
+  const [isInvalid, setIsInvalid] = useState(false);
 
   useEffect(() => {
     const getStuckUpdatingAgentCount = async (agentsOrQuery: Agent[] | string) => {
@@ -179,10 +181,10 @@ export const AgentUpgradeAgentModal: React.FunctionComponent<AgentUpgradeAgentMo
       value: option,
     }));
     if (options.length === 0) {
-      return [{ label: '', value: '' }];
+      return [EMPTY_VALUE];
     }
     return options;
-  }, [availableVersions, minVersion]);
+  }, [availableVersions, minVersion, EMPTY_VALUE]);
   const noVersions = !availableVersions || versionOptions[0]?.value === '';
 
   const maintenanceOptions: Array<EuiComboBoxOptionOption<number>> = MAINTENANCE_VALUES.map(
@@ -292,6 +294,7 @@ export const AgentUpgradeAgentModal: React.FunctionComponent<AgentUpgradeAgentMo
       value: normalizedSearchValue,
     };
     setSelectedVersion([newOption]);
+    setIsInvalid(!normalizedSearchValue);
   };
 
   return (
@@ -343,6 +346,7 @@ export const AgentUpgradeAgentModal: React.FunctionComponent<AgentUpgradeAgentMo
       confirmButtonDisabled={
         isSubmitting ||
         (isUpdating && updatingAgents === 0) ||
+        !selectedVersion[0].value ||
         (isSingleAgent && !isAgentUpgradeableToVersion(agents[0], selectedVersion[0].value))
       }
       confirmButtonText={
@@ -378,6 +382,7 @@ export const AgentUpgradeAgentModal: React.FunctionComponent<AgentUpgradeAgentMo
             defaultMessage="No newer versions found to upgrade to. You may type in a custom version."
           />
         ) : isSingleAgent ? (
+          selectedVersion[0].value &&
           !isAgentUpgradeableToVersion(agents[0], selectedVersion[0].value) ? (
             <EuiCallOut
               data-test-subj="agentUpgradeModal.notUpgradeableCallout"
@@ -407,10 +412,12 @@ export const AgentUpgradeAgentModal: React.FunctionComponent<AgentUpgradeAgentMo
               <p>
                 <FormattedMessage
                   id="xpack.fleet.upgradeAgents.upgradeSingleDescription"
-                  defaultMessage="This action will upgrade the agent running on '{hostName}' to version {version}. This action can not be undone. Are you sure you wish to continue?"
+                  defaultMessage="This action will upgrade the agent running on '{hostName}'{version}. This action can not be undone. Are you sure you wish to continue?"
                   values={{
                     hostName: ((agents[0] as Agent).local_metadata.host as any).hostname,
-                    version: getVersion(selectedVersion),
+                    version: selectedVersion[0].value
+                      ? ' to version ' + getVersion(selectedVersion)
+                      : '',
                   }}
                 />
               </p>
@@ -433,8 +440,10 @@ export const AgentUpgradeAgentModal: React.FunctionComponent<AgentUpgradeAgentMo
         ) : (
           <FormattedMessage
             id="xpack.fleet.upgradeAgents.upgradeMultipleDescription"
-            defaultMessage="This action will upgrade multiple agents to version {version}. This action can not be undone. Are you sure you wish to continue?"
-            values={{ version: getVersion(selectedVersion) }}
+            defaultMessage="This action will upgrade multiple agents{version}. This action can not be undone. Are you sure you wish to continue?"
+            values={{
+              version: selectedVersion[0].value ? ' to version ' + getVersion(selectedVersion) : '',
+            }}
           />
         )}
       </p>
@@ -443,6 +452,15 @@ export const AgentUpgradeAgentModal: React.FunctionComponent<AgentUpgradeAgentMo
           defaultMessage: 'Upgrade version',
         })}
         fullWidth
+        isInvalid={isInvalid}
+        error={
+          isInvalid ? (
+            <FormattedMessage
+              id="xpack.fleet.upgradeAgents.versionRequiredText"
+              defaultMessage="Version is required"
+            />
+          ) : undefined
+        }
       >
         {noVersions ? (
           <EuiFieldText
@@ -462,18 +480,22 @@ export const AgentUpgradeAgentModal: React.FunctionComponent<AgentUpgradeAgentMo
             fullWidth
             singleSelection={{ asPlainText: true }}
             options={versionOptions}
-            isClearable={false}
+            isClearable={true}
             selectedOptions={selectedVersion}
             onChange={(selected: Array<EuiComboBoxOptionOption<string>>) => {
               if (!selected.length) {
-                return;
+                setSelectedVersion([EMPTY_VALUE]);
+                setIsInvalid(true);
+              } else {
+                setSelectedVersion(selected);
+                setIsInvalid(false);
               }
-              setSelectedVersion(selected);
             }}
             onCreateOption={
               config?.internal?.onlyAllowAgentUpgradeToKnownVersions ? undefined : onCreateOption
             }
             customOptionText="Use custom agent version {searchValue} (not recommended)"
+            isInvalid={isInvalid}
           />
         )}
       </EuiFormRow>