diff --git a/mongoengine/fields.py b/mongoengine/fields.py
index 90a3b3d2..308bb4d6 100644
--- a/mongoengine/fields.py
+++ b/mongoengine/fields.py
@@ -130,6 +130,7 @@ class EmbeddedDocumentField(BaseField):
         if not isinstance(value, self.document):
             raise ValidationError('Invalid embedded document instance '
                                   'provided to an EmbeddedDocumentField')
+        self.document.validate(value)
 
     def lookup_member(self, member_name):
         return self.document._fields.get(member_name)
diff --git a/tests/fields.py b/tests/fields.py
index 0ebb143d..599e3d75 100644
--- a/tests/fields.py
+++ b/tests/fields.py
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ class FieldTest(unittest.TestCase):
             content = StringField()
 
         class PersonPreferences(EmbeddedDocument):
-            food = StringField()
+            food = StringField(required=True)
             number = IntField()
 
         class Person(Document):
@@ -195,9 +195,14 @@ class FieldTest(unittest.TestCase):
         person.preferences = 'My Preferences'
         self.assertRaises(ValidationError, person.validate)
 
+        # Check that only the right embedded doc works
         person.preferences = Comment(content='Nice blog post...')
         self.assertRaises(ValidationError, person.validate)
 
+        # Check that the embedded doc is valid
+        person.preferences = PersonPreferences()
+        self.assertRaises(ValidationError, person.validate)
+
         person.preferences = PersonPreferences(food='Cheese', number=47)
         self.assertEqual(person.preferences.food, 'Cheese')
         person.validate()