diff --git a/src/app/tasks.coffee b/src/app/tasks.coffee
index 0532fd33a6..0feba1c746 100644
--- a/src/app/tasks.coffee
+++ b/src/app/tasks.coffee
@@ -43,8 +43,10 @@ module.exports.app = (appExports, model) ->
     list = model.at "_#{type}List"
     newModel = model.at('_new' + type.charAt(0).toUpperCase() + type.slice(1))
     text = newModel.get()
-    # Don't add a blank todo
-    return if /^(\s)*$/.test(text)
+    # Don't add a blank task
+    if /^(\s)*$/.test(text)
+      console.error "Task text entered was an empty string."
+      return
 
     newModel.set ''
     switch type
diff --git a/views/app/index.html b/views/app/index.html
index e4fe313316..4ee39b1fee 100644
--- a/views/app/index.html
+++ b/views/app/index.html
@@ -308,22 +308,20 @@ do a find for the string after "→"
       <!--helpTitle & helpContent moved to tour -->
       <div class="span3 well habits">
         <h2>Habits</h2>
-        <!--removing for now, help-info in the tour instead-->
-        <!--<span class="help-icon" rel="popover" data-placement="bottom" data-trigger="hover" data-original-title="{{{helpTitle}}}" data-content="{{{helpContent}}}"><i class="icon-question-sign"></i></span>-->
-        <app:newTask type=habit><input value={_newHabit} type="text" name=new-task placeholder="New Habit"/></app:newTask>
-        <ul class='habits'>{#each _habitList as :task}<app:task />{/}</ul>
+        <app:newTask type="habit"><input value="{_newHabit}" type="text" name="new-task" placeholder="New Habit"/></app:newTask>
+        <ul class="habits">{#each _habitList as :task}<app:task />{/}</ul>
       </div>
 
       <div class="span3 well dailys">
         <h2>Daily</h2>
-        <app:newTask type=daily><input value={_newDaily} type="text" name=new-task placeholder="New Daily"/></app:newTask>
+        <app:newTask type="daily"><input value={_newDaily} type="text" name=new-task placeholder="New Daily"/></app:newTask>
         <ul class='dailys'>{#each _dailyList as :task}<app:task />{/}</ul>
       </div>
 
       <div class="span3 well todos context-enabled context-uncompleted tabbable tabs-below" id="todo-well">
         <h2>Todos</h2>
         <div class="display-context-dependant show-for-uncompleted">
-          <app:newTask type=todo><input value={_newTodo} type="text" name=new-task placeholder="New Todo"/></app:newTask>
+          <app:newTask type="todo"><input value={_newTodo} type="text" name=new-task placeholder="New Todo"/></app:newTask>
         </div>
         <ul class='todos task-list'>
           {#each _todoList as :task}<app:task />{/}
@@ -363,7 +361,7 @@ do a find for the string after "→"
                     {/}
                 </div>
             </div>
-            <app:newTask type=reward><input value={_newReward} type="text" name=new-task placeholder="New Reward"/></app:newTask>
+            <app:newTask type="reward"><input value={_newReward} type="text" name=new-task placeholder="New Reward"/></app:newTask>
 
             {#if _user.flags.petsEnabled}
                 <div class='tabbable tabs-below'>
@@ -523,9 +521,9 @@ do a find for the string after "→"
   <!--<span class="well pull-right">Tokens: {tokens(_user.balance)}</span>-->
 
 <newTask: nonvoid>
-  <form class="form-inline new-task-form" id=new-{{@type}} data-task-type={{@type}} x-bind=submit:addTask>
+  <form class="form-inline new-task-form" id="new-{{@type}}" data-task-type="{{@type}}" x-bind="submit:addTask">
     {{@content}}
-    <input class="btn" type=submit value=Add />
+    <input class="btn" type="submit" value="Add" />
   </form>
 
 <task:>