diff --git a/ui/component/publishForm/view.jsx b/ui/component/publishForm/view.jsx
index b767a40be..7c8a3c8d1 100644
--- a/ui/component/publishForm/view.jsx
+++ b/ui/component/publishForm/view.jsx
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ type Props = {
   publish: (?string) => void,
   filePath: ?string,
   bid: ?number,
+  bidError: ?string,
   editingURI: ?string,
   title: ?string,
   thumbnail: ?string,
@@ -74,6 +75,7 @@ function PublishForm(props: Props) {
     resolveUri,
     title,
     bid,
+    bidError,
     uploadThumbnailStatus,
     resetThumbnailStatus,
     updatePublishForm,
@@ -90,7 +92,12 @@ function PublishForm(props: Props) {
 
   // If they are editing, they don't need a new file chosen
   const formValidLessFile =
-    name && isNameValid(name, false) && title && bid && !(uploadThumbnailStatus === THUMBNAIL_STATUSES.IN_PROGRESS);
+    name &&
+    isNameValid(name, false) &&
+    title &&
+    bid &&
+    !bidError &&
+    !(uploadThumbnailStatus === THUMBNAIL_STATUSES.IN_PROGRESS);
   const formValid = editingURI && !filePath ? isStillEditing && formValidLessFile : formValidLessFile;
 
   let submitLabel;
diff --git a/ui/component/publishFormErrors/index.js b/ui/component/publishFormErrors/index.js
index 54ddef686..b551fd140 100644
--- a/ui/component/publishFormErrors/index.js
+++ b/ui/component/publishFormErrors/index.js
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ const select = state => ({
   name: makeSelectPublishFormValue('name')(state),
   title: makeSelectPublishFormValue('title')(state),
   bid: makeSelectPublishFormValue('bid')(state),
+  bidError: makeSelectPublishFormValue('bidError')(state),
   editingUri: makeSelectPublishFormValue('editingUri')(state),
   uploadThumbnailStatus: makeSelectPublishFormValue('uploadThumbnailStatus')(state),
   isStillEditing: selectIsStillEditing(state),
diff --git a/ui/component/publishFormErrors/view.jsx b/ui/component/publishFormErrors/view.jsx
index fa7792591..4845f3971 100644
--- a/ui/component/publishFormErrors/view.jsx
+++ b/ui/component/publishFormErrors/view.jsx
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ type Props = {
   title: ?string,
   name: ?string,
   bid: ?string,
+  bidError: ?string,
   editingURI: ?string,
   filePath: ?string,
   isStillEditing: boolean,
@@ -14,7 +15,7 @@ type Props = {
 };
 
 function PublishFormErrors(props: Props) {
-  const { name, title, bid, editingURI, filePath, isStillEditing, uploadThumbnailStatus } = props;
+  const { name, title, bid, bidError, editingURI, filePath, isStillEditing, uploadThumbnailStatus } = props;
 
   // These are extra help
   // If there is an error it will be presented as an inline error as well
@@ -24,6 +25,7 @@ function PublishFormErrors(props: Props) {
       {!name && <div>{__('A URL is required')}</div>}
       {!isNameValid(name, false) && INVALID_NAME_ERROR}
       {!bid && <div>{__('A deposit amount is required')}</div>}
+      {bidError && <div>{__('Please check your deposit amount.')}</div>}
       {uploadThumbnailStatus === THUMBNAIL_STATUSES.IN_PROGRESS && (
         <div>{__('Please wait for thumbnail to finish uploading')}</div>
       )}
diff --git a/ui/component/publishName/view.jsx b/ui/component/publishName/view.jsx
index 4aa7836ee..41d9bf858 100644
--- a/ui/component/publishName/view.jsx
+++ b/ui/component/publishName/view.jsx
@@ -62,15 +62,16 @@ function PublishName(props: Props) {
     let bidError;
     if (bid === 0) {
       bidError = __('Deposit cannot be 0');
-    } else if (totalAvailableBidAmount === bid) {
-      bidError = __('Please decrease your deposit to account for transaction fees');
-    } else if (totalAvailableBidAmount < bid) {
-      bidError = __('Deposit cannot be higher than your balance');
     } else if (bid < MINIMUM_PUBLISH_BID) {
       bidError = __('Your deposit must be higher');
+    } else if (totalAvailableBidAmount < bid) {
+      bidError = __('Deposit cannot be higher than your balance');
+    } else if (totalAvailableBidAmount <= bid + 0.05) {
+      bidError = __('Please decrease your deposit to account for transaction fees or acquire more LBC.');
     }
 
     setBidError(bidError);
+    updatePublishForm({ bidError: bidError });
   }, [bid, previousBidAmount, balance]);
 
   return (
diff --git a/ui/component/userFirstChannel/view.jsx b/ui/component/userFirstChannel/view.jsx
index 76f2b31f4..cdd2c96eb 100644
--- a/ui/component/userFirstChannel/view.jsx
+++ b/ui/component/userFirstChannel/view.jsx
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import { isNameValid } from 'lbry-redux';
 import Button from 'component/button';
 import { Form, FormField } from 'component/common/form';
 import { INVALID_NAME_ERROR } from 'constants/claim';
-export const DEFAULT_BID_FOR_FIRST_CHANNEL = 0.5;
+export const DEFAULT_BID_FOR_FIRST_CHANNEL = 0.01;
 
 type Props = {
   createChannel: (string, number) => void,