diff --git a/frontend/src/InteractiveImport/Interactive/InteractiveImportModalContent.js b/frontend/src/InteractiveImport/Interactive/InteractiveImportModalContent.js
index dd4d1ab49..f08a85413 100644
--- a/frontend/src/InteractiveImport/Interactive/InteractiveImportModalContent.js
+++ b/frontend/src/InteractiveImport/Interactive/InteractiveImportModalContent.js
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@ const filterExistingFilesOptions = {
 };
 
 const importModeOptions = [
+  { key: 'chooseImportMode', value: 'Choose Import Mode', disabled: true },
   { key: 'move', value: 'Move Files' },
   { key: 'copy', value: 'Hardlink/Copy Files' }
 ];
diff --git a/frontend/src/InteractiveImport/Interactive/InteractiveImportModalContentConnector.js b/frontend/src/InteractiveImport/Interactive/InteractiveImportModalContentConnector.js
index f912fa9a3..292a2becd 100644
--- a/frontend/src/InteractiveImport/Interactive/InteractiveImportModalContentConnector.js
+++ b/frontend/src/InteractiveImport/Interactive/InteractiveImportModalContentConnector.js
@@ -178,6 +178,11 @@ class InteractiveImportModalContentConnector extends Component {
     const existingFiles = [];
     const files = [];
 
+    if (importMode === 'chooseImportMethod') {
+      this.setState({ interactiveImportErrorMessage: 'An import mode must be selected' });
+      return;
+    }
+
     items.forEach((item) => {
       const isSelected = selected.indexOf(item.id) > -1;
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/Store/Actions/interactiveImportActions.js b/frontend/src/Store/Actions/interactiveImportActions.js
index 132355a16..a1ec85595 100644
--- a/frontend/src/Store/Actions/interactiveImportActions.js
+++ b/frontend/src/Store/Actions/interactiveImportActions.js
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ export const defaultState = {
   sortKey: 'quality',
   sortDirection: sortDirections.DESCENDING,
   recentFolders: [],
-  importMode: 'move',
+  importMode: 'chooseImportMode',
   sortPredicates: {
     relativePath: function(item, direction) {
       const relativePath = item.relativePath;