diff --git a/src/webview/newProjectPanel.mts b/src/webview/newProjectPanel.mts
index f343ef91..f75bebda 100644
--- a/src/webview/newProjectPanel.mts
+++ b/src/webview/newProjectPanel.mts
@@ -1494,7 +1494,7 @@ export class NewProjectPanel {
                                   forceCreateFromExample
                                     ? "Select an example"
                                     : "Project name"
-                                }" required/>
+                                }" required/> <!-- without this required the webview will crash every time you hit the examples button -->
                                 <button id="project-name-dropdown-button" class="absolute inset-y-0 right-0 flex items-center px-2 border border-l-0 bg-gray-50 dark:bg-gray-700 text-gray-900 dark:text-white rounded-r-lg border-gray-300 dark:border-gray-600 ${
                                   !forceCreateFromExample ? "hidden" : ""
                                 }">&#9660;</button>
diff --git a/web/nav.js b/web/nav.js
index 6127d956..f4fa9af0 100644
--- a/web/nav.js
+++ b/web/nav.js
@@ -111,6 +111,9 @@ window.toggleCreateFromExampleMode = function (forceOn, forceOff) {
   const defaultBoardTypeOption = document.getElementById('sel-default');
 
   if (isExampleMode && (forceOn === undefined || !forceOn) && (forceOff === undefined || forceOff)) {
+    // clear input to avoid crashing the webview
+    projectNameInput.value = '';
+
     if (createFromExampleBtn) {
       createFromExampleBtn.setAttribute('data-example-mode', 'false');
       createFromExampleBtn.innerText = 'Example';